Following the team’s 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC wild-card round, Mike Tomlin informed the players
during a team meeting on Tuesday that he intended to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers the following season. According
to multiple players who were present, the coach felt that answering a question about this future would have given
credibility to unfounded rumors.
When Tomlin was almost done with his postgame news conference, someone asked him about his future in
Pittsburgh. Tomlin chose to leave the podium without responding. The early playoff departure, multiple media
reports raising doubts about Tomlin’s future, and the fact that he is approaching the end of his contract all
contributed to the public’s increased curiosity about Tomlin’s tenure in Pittsburgh.
Cam Heyward, a defensive lineman for the Steelers, passionately defended Tomlin to reporters earlier on Tuesday.
Heyward questioned the lack of regard Tomlin has received for his work.
“Why would he respond to that kind of question?” Regarding Tomlin’s employment status, Heyward stated. “We just
lost a big playoff game last night, and he was worried about trying to win a game.” Then why does he need to address
that?
Tomlin, 51, has coached for 17 seasons and is 173-100-2. His clubs have never had a losing record in the end.
With a 10-7 record, the squad this year advanced to the postseason by winning its final three regular-season games.
Since 2017, the Steelers had lost five straight playoff games before falling to Buffalo.
Joel Thomas has been appointed by the Giants as their new running backs coach. He had played the same part in
New Orleans for nine seasons. Jeff Nixon, the Giants’ former running backs coach, left to take a position as
Syracuse’s new offensive coordinator.
For his second term with the franchise as the executive director of player performance, the Giants also welcomed
back Aaron Wellman. Craig Fitzgerald departed the Giants to move to Florida, and Wellman, who was with the team
from 2016 to 2019, takes his position. Following the transactions, the Giants’ open positions are now limited to
outside linebackers coach, defensive coordinator, and special teams coordinator. Carmen Bricillo of the Raiders was
hired by the organization last week to assume the position of offensive line coach.
