Video: Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Walks Away When Asked About Future After Loss to Bills

Andrew PetersJanuary 16, 2024

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Mike Tomlin had no interest in answering questions about his future following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wild-card exit to the Buffalo Bills.

The Steelers head coach promptly walked away from the podium when a reporter began asking him about his future with the team.

Alan Saunders @ASaunders_PGHMike Tomlin, asked about his future after the #Steelers playoff loss, walks off the podium. pic.twitter.com/mHLyivdU0q

With the loss to Buffalo, the Steelers have now failed to make it past the Wild Card Round since 2017. They have also missed the playoffs three times in the last season.

The 17th-year head coach, now the longest tenured HC in the NFL, will be in the final year of his contract in 2024.

While Tomlin’s experience as a head coach is unmatched, his struggles over the past few seasons have been evident. Pittsburgh is far removed from its Super Bowl-winning days and it’s clear the team needs a change. What that change will be is not obvious at this point.

Despite their struggles this season, the Steelers managed to win their final three games and reach the playoffs, but it could be the last run for Tomlin.

According to a report on Saturday from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Steelers want to extend the 51-year-old’s contract, but he has not made a decision about his future yet. He said that he would wait to make a decision until after the season.

Tomlin now has several options. He could take the extension, or resign and try to get his contract picked up by one of the eight teams currently looking for a head coach. He could also finish the last year of his contract—he has never been in a final year of a contract during his time with the Steelers—and become a free agent in 2025, or just resign and take the year off.

Whatever Tomlin decides to do, he had no interest in explaining his plans after the loss on Monday.