The Pittsburgh Steelers have a crucial decision to make on head coach Mike Tomlin’s contract this offseason. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Steelers and Tomlin each must look at the option in contract that would extend his contract beyond 2026 and to 2027.
Right now, Tomlin is technically only guaranteed to be under contract through 2026 as a result of the option. The Steelers and Tomlin can pick up the option by March 1, otherwise he would be heading into a lame duck year in 2026.
The Steelers have not fired a coach since 1968, making it unlikely they would move on from Tomlin in that manner, but Tomlin could choose to walk away and the option changes the calculus for his future.
If the team is going to pick up the option or even decline, another extension would make sense if team president Art Rooney II still believes Tomlin is the right man to lead the team.
However, if Rooney looks at the situation and has questions, which would be warranted given the Steelers have fallen from 4-1 to 6-6, then perhaps the separation between Tomlin and the Steelers is likelier than people think.
Rooney will have make that critical decision this season on just how much he believes in Tomlin and his future with the Steelers.