Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed speculation surrounding his plans for the 2024 season during a talk with his players on Tuesday. According to a report by Mike Florio of NBC Sports before the Wild Card game, the long-time head coach had not yet made a decision about his future with the team. Despite ongoing discussions about Tomlin’s potential extension, he has not committed to returning for the 2024 season.
At halftime of the Browns-Texans game on NBC, it was explained that Tomlin remains fully focused on the current season and will assess his situation once it concludes. This year is unique for him as he has never before entered the final year of a contract; previous extensions were typically secured with two years remaining, which adds complexity to the decision-making process.
After the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday evening, Tomlin left his postgame press conference when questioned about the 2024 season and his contract, leaving the decision about his coaching future open-ended.
Mike Tomlin talks to Steelers’ players about 2024
On Tuesday afternoon, there was a development shedding more light on Mike Tomlin’s plans for the 2024 season. According to information from Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, Tomlin clarified to his players that the rumors suggesting he might take a break from coaching the Steelers for a season were unfounded. Tomlin has communicated his intention to continue coaching the Steelers in the upcoming 2024 season.
In a team meeting today, Mike Tomlin told #Steelers players the speculation about him stepping away is unfounded and he plans on coaching the team in 2024, sources say.
Tomlin, who is entering the final year of his contract, is expected to address the media later this week. pic.twitter.com/GwBax5Dei4
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 16, 2024
The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly interested in extending Mike Tomlin’s coaching contract, and Tomlin himself seemingly has the intention of staying in Pittsburgh. However, as of now, neither party has finalized a contract extension for reasons that remain unclear. The situation suggests that while there is mutual interest in continuing the partnership, the formalities of a contract extension have not been concluded at this point.
As of now, Mike Tomlin is set to enter the offseason as the coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers, navigating the final season of his current contract. The looming question about his future will persist unless a contract extension is finalized before the upcoming season begins. Given the challenges the Steelers face, particularly regarding their quarterback position on offense, there is a sense of urgency to secure Tomlin’s extension promptly. This would help prevent additional distractions in the 2024 season, allowing the team to focus on its on-field performance without the uncertainty surrounding the head coaching position.
