Steelers Legends Raise Questions Over Mike Tomlin

Former Steelers stars say a coaching change could benefit both Tomlin and the team

When Steelers legends talk, the Steel City listens—and lately, Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison have been stirring the pot about head coach Mike Tomlin’s future. Both icons, never ones to mince words, are hinting that maybe, just maybe, it’s time for a fresh face on the sidelines.

Roethlisberger, the man who brought two Super Bowl trophies back to Pittsburgh, recently floated the idea of Tomlin taking the reins at Penn State. He didn’t stop there—Big Ben mused that the Steelers might need to “clean house,” suggesting a mutual parting of ways could be the best play for both Tomlin and the team. It’s the kind of tough love only a quarterback who’s been in the trenches can deliver. Those comments arrive as conversations also continue around Ben Roethlisberger’s Hall of Fame future and how his legacy shapes Steelers debates.

James Harrison, the former linebacker who made a living out of flattening quarterbacks, didn’t bother with sugarcoating. He flat-out said he doesn’t see Tomlin as a “great coach,” pointing to a pattern of coming up short when it matters most. Harrison, ever the straight shooter, acknowledged the Steelers’ loyalty to their head coaches but argued that sometimes, even the most loyal marriage needs a little shake-up. At the same time, the franchise is moving forward with structural changes like the Steelers hiring Domata Peko as defensive line coach to strengthen the staff.

Let’s talk numbers: Tomlin boasts 189 regular-season wins and a .625 career winning percentage over 19 seasons—a record most coaches would sell their playbook for. But here’s the rub: the Steelers haven’t topped the AFC North since 2020, and the last playoff win feels like ancient history—January 2017, to be exact.

Roethlisberger and Harrison’s comments aren’t just idle chatter; they echo a growing chorus among former players and fans who think the Steelers could use a new direction. Sure, Tomlin’s regular-season record shines, but as any Pittsburgher will tell you, it’s the postseason glory that fills the trophy case. Speculation has only intensified with talk about Mike Tomlin’s possible coaching landing spots if a separation were to happen.

Whether the Steelers decide to roll the dice on a new coach or stick with Tomlin’s steady hand, one thing’s for sure: when legends like Roethlisberger and Harrison speak, the whole city leans in, popcorn in hand, waiting to see what happens next.