In the world of professional football, few institutions are as stable as the Pittsburgh Steelers. With only three head coaches in the last 50 years, the franchise is the gold standard for patience and organizational continuity. However, following the team’s seventh consecutive playoff loss, that stability is being tested like never before. On a recent episode of The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty, the unfiltered and always controversial Coach JB (Jason Brown) alongside co-host Big Smitty dived deep into the question that is currently haunting the Steel City: Is it finally time to move on from Mike Tomlin?
The conversation began with a staggering statistic. Mike Tomlin, a future Hall of Famer with a Super Bowl ring and a record for the most consecutive non-losing seasons (19), has not won a playoff game in years. For Coach JB, the reality of the business is simple and brutal. “It’s results-oriented,” JB stated emphatically. “I say it every day: there’s no gray area. You either get it done or you don’t. The last time I checked, the scoreboard is the determinant.”
Big Smitty offered a more measured perspective, suggesting that while Tomlin is a “hell of a coach and a leader,” a “fresh voice” might be necessary for both parties. He drew a parallel to Andy Reid’s departure from Philadelphia—a move that eventually led to a legendary second chapter for Reid in Kansas City. Smitty argued that being let go doesn’t necessarily mean a coach is “bad,” but that after nearly two decades, the energy in the room can become stagnant.
However, Coach JB was quick to defend Tomlin against the “Twitter experts” and fans calling for his head. He argued that the real problem in Pittsburgh isn’t the coaching, but the “Jimmies and Joes”—specifically at the quarterback position. Since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers have struggled with a carousel of quarterbacks, including Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, and Mason Rudolph. JB pointed out that in the modern NFL, you simply cannot win without a franchise signal-caller.
“You motherfers think it’s just so simple,” JB vented, referencing the struggles of franchises like the Patriots, Cowboys, and Giants after losing their legendary quarterbacks. “Mike Tomlin has been making chicken salad out of chicken s for years. He doesn’t get enough credit for what he’s done with the quarterbacks he’s had.” JB’s point is a powerful one: when you don’t have a foundation at QB, every other part of the operation—from drafting offensive tackles to time of possession—becomes a “crapshoot.”
The episode also featured a clip of Aaron Rodgers defending Tomlin and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur. Rodgers criticized the “snap decisions” and the validity given to social media critics in today’s league. “When you have the right guy and the culture is right, you don’t think about making a change,” Rodgers said. “Mike T has had more success than damn near anybody in the league for the last 20 years.”
Despite the defense from Rodgers and JB’s own respect for Tomlin’s leadership, both hosts reached a reluctant conclusion: a “fresh start” might be inevitable. Rumors have swirled that Tomlin might consider a move to television, though JB was skeptical about him being a “booth guy.” Instead, he envisioned Tomlin as a high-level pre-game analyst, someone who could use his legendary communication skills to break down the game in a way few others can.
As the Steelers enter an uncertain offseason, the debate remains: be careful what you wish for. Replacing a leader of Tomlin’s caliber is a gamble that could easily send a franchise into a decades-long tailspin. But in a league where the “window closes quick,” Pittsburgh must decide if they are content with being a “middle-tier” team or if they are willing to blow it all up for a chance at another Lombardi Trophy.
Coach JB summed it up with his trademark intensity: “I want to see him go somewhere else. It’s time to go, just so all those people chirping can see what happens when you don’t have a guy like him leading your locker room.” Whether Tomlin stays or goes, one thing is certain: the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” business, and in Pittsburgh, the clock is ticking louder than ever.
