Steelers’ Mike Tomlin expects offseason extension،
PITTSBURGH – Mike Tomlin isn't going anywhere.
Days after leaving a postgame news conference during a question about his future, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach said his enthusiasm for the job has “intensified” and that he hopes get a contract extension this offseason.
“I expect to be back, and I imagine these contractual things will run their course,” Tomlin said during his end-of-season news conference Thursday. “Art [Rooney II] and I have a very good transparent relationship. We communicate continually and often. I don't imagine it's going to be a problem, and I imagine it will be done in a timely manner, at the appropriate time, but my mindset is to coach your football team. »
Rooney later told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the team “plans to extend Mike's contract.”
Tomlin also explained his departure during the last question of the press conference after the loss to the Buffalo Bills and admitted that he didn't handle the situation well.
“I definitely could have handled that situation better than I did,” Tomlin said. “But I will also say this, I just believe that there is a time and a place for everything and that post-match press conferences are probably not the place to address contractual issues and other things of that nature .It's just a very individual thing, and on game day I doubt any of us will be in that mindset, certainly not.”
Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension in 2021, tying him to the team through the 2024 season. Outside speculation swirled at the end of the season that the coach might consider stepping aside for a year after the 2023 season, but Tomlin laughed and responded with a simple “no” when asked if he had told anyone he had considered taking a break.
“I understand that speculation is part of what we do,” Tomlin said. “I try not to get caught up in it or distracted by it, especially when it's not where I am. And so that's my mindset on it.”
Tomlin, who is about to enter his 18th season as Steelers head coach, said his process for evaluating his future at the end of each season hasn't changed.
“I coach football, that’s what I do,” Tomlin said. “I respect the position that I hold. I have no sense of entitlement when it comes to what I do. I've just gained a high level of respect for what we all do in this space, and I try to earn it daily.” and I think that's just my mentality.
“I don't think about a lot of things. I enjoy things on a daily basis and try to work in a hurry on a daily basis, and I don't know if that's changed. My point probably hasn't of sight. I'm always on the move.”
That “go” mentality and experience also leads him to believe he's still the right person to lead the Steelers, even though he hasn't won a playoff game since 2016.
“Fifty-one years of life,” he said, explaining why he is the man for the job. “I mentioned that – I think in this context earlier – I don't lack confidence in my ability to do the job, while at the same time there is frustration because I want this confetti for this band.
“And so whatever we can do to get there, whatever changes need to be made, I'm open to that.”
Although he acknowledged the extension is important this time around because of the security it would provide for candidates for the offensive coordinator vacancy, Tomlin downplayed the urgency and importance of the timing of making it happen.
“That’s part of it,” Tomlin said. “Answering fewer questions from you about these things is part of it, but that's probably the only level of importance to me, to be completely honest with you; security is cool, but it's not is not a top priority for me.
“I've seen a lot of it. I'm not afraid of the work, but it poses fewer questions and things of that nature.”
Tomlin said Thursday he plans to hire an outside offensive coordinator position, meaning Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan, who split coordinator duties after Matt Canada was fired mid-season , will not return to these roles next season.
“I want us to be versatile and dynamic,” Tomlin said, describing what he looks for in an offensive coordinator. “Obviously we need to score more points. I want to be able to keep defenses off balance. I want to use all the talent we have. I'm excited about this process and the talent pool that's out there.”
Although Tomlin plans to leave the organization to hire an offensive coordinator, he said the starting quarterback for the 2024 season is already in-house. He pledged that Kenny Pickett will return to his starting role, but added that Pickett will have competition.
“There’s always competition in this area,” Tomlin said. “We're not shortchanging anyone, man. I appreciate his effort and where he's at and I'm excited to continue working with him, but he'll definitely be challenged from a competitive standpoint going forward. competition brings out the best in all of us.”
Quarterback Mason Rudolph, who had consistent, solid performances in four starts to end the season, is set to become a free agent, but Tomlin has expressed a desire to bring him back.
“I can't stress how impressive it is to be ready — forget performance man — to be ready to deliver, and he was,” Tomlin said of Rudolph. “And that preparation has manifested itself, and so we are certainly less speculative about his capabilities because there is evidence of it, evidence in difficult circumstances.”