Pssst, the Steelers lost again in the playoffs Saturday night, pass it on.
I’ve read reports that this happened, by a 28-14 score at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens, a game whose television footprint was in the relative obscurity of Amazon Prime. I didn’t watch, but I’ve seen enough highlights posted on various Internet sites to concede this is true.
It wasn’t even as close as the final score.
The Steelers ended the season 10-8, losers of five consecutive games. But optimists and apologists alike will note the playoff appearance and the fact that coach Mike Tomlin continues his run of never having presided over a losing season.
That’s sure to thrill the cockles of the hearts of Steelers fans more attuned to thoughts of Super Bowl trophies, of which the franchise has six, rather than being content with stringing together winning seasons and failing miserably in the playoffs.
Tomlin qualifies on both counts, his teams not having won a playoff game since 2016.
By avoiding losing seasons, specifically the sort of lost seasons that provide lofty draft position as compensation, and with it the opportunity to pick future stars, the Steelers continue to deal in mediocrity.
Creative minds, such as those on si.com, are suggesting a trade – for Tomlin.
They note that as recently as 2023, Denver acquired head coach Sean Payton from New Orleans for first-, second- and third-round picks.
Surely Tomlin might be worth similar return in the coach trade market.
It would be a notable irony of sorts. Once upon a time, the Pirates acquired a manager, Chuck Tanner, in the trade market, sending catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000 to the Oakland A’s following the 1976 season in exchange for Tanner, who would lead the Pirates to their last World Series appearance and victory in 1979.
Some would argue it’s better to keep Tomlin and wait for him to regain past playoff success. History, including that of the Steelers franchise, suggests this will not happen.
Chuck Noll coached the Steelers to four Super Bowl wins in a six-season stretch from the 1974 through 1979 seasons.
The Steelers made the playoffs just four times in the next 12 seasons, with Noll retiring under the weight of it all following the 1991 season.
The Steelers had gone 2-4 in those four post-Super Bowl playoff appearances, which means even though he suffered losing seasons, Noll never suffered the sort of playoff win drought Tomlin has currently.
Banking on Tomlin getting the Steelers back to Super Bowl status is a stretch. Trading Tomlin is no guarantee to change any of this. But, it would be a start.
Sam Ross Jr's site 