Steelers Legendary Safety Troy Polamalu Calls Out Critical Fans Defending Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been one of the top rumor mill subjects of late. The up-and-down season the Steelers had, particularly during the earlier part of 2023, is the reason for all the scuttlebutt. While the Steelers seemed to get off to a decent start on paper, it wasn't quite that simple. It has led to more chants of "Fire Tomlin" than normal from fans. It has also ramped up media speculation, something that usually doesn't bother with uber-loyal Pittsburgh. The rumors were given more substance when NFL analyst Adam Schefter suggested that Tomlin himself might choose to move on from Pittsburgh. 

This has led to numerous former players taking to the airwaves to defend and support their coach. Whether it is players saying that they hope Tomlin goes somewhere where he is more respected, or the absolute belief that the Rooney family would never move on from Tomlin, they all feel the same, he will be hard to replace. 

Former Steelers legendary safety Troy Polamalu is one of the latest to ride his white horse in to protect Tomlin while saying he understands the fan point of view. He recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show and Eisen asked him what there is about Tomlin that fans might not know or understand. Eisen mentioned how this is Tomlin's 17th straight winning season, one in which he finishes at or above .500. 

"I think what makes him very unique is what you see is what you get, there's no secrets about him, he's very authentic, he's a man of integrity," said Polamalu.

While you don't ever hear fans questioning Tomlin's integrity or work ethic, many consider the whole "winning season" narrative a tiresome one. They want parades and Lombardi Trophies. Yet Tomlin has taken the Steelers to the Super Bowl twice, winning one. That is two more appearances than most coaches get and one more win than almost any get. Polamalu said he was blessed to work with some of the greatest coaches in both college and NFL football. 

"I think it's insane for him not to be the Steelers coach next year. He's a Hall of Fame coach. I've had Coach [Bill] Cowher, I've also had Coach [Pete] Carroll, those three are three of the best coaches I've ever been around. They are all equal to me. I think coach should always remain the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, be crazy not to be."

Eisen brought up some of the things that fans often use as ammunition against Tomlin - he is set in his ways and that is something that holds him back at times. For example, when the offense was struggling earlier this season, Tomlin waited until after the Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns to fire Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada. 

Canada was in his third season as the offensive coordinator and most fans felt the writing was on the wall for him long before that. They felt that Tomlin wasn't being aggressive enough in dealing with a mediocre coach. Part of what aggravates fans is that Tomlin plays his cards so close to the vest. He will never walk out at a press conference and directly sell out a coach or player. Instead, he evades those topics or gives a half-answer. This doesn't satisfy the fans who want blood. However, Tomlin is smart enough to know those fans will never be satisfied with any answer he gives. 

The Frustrated Steelers Fans Need To Exercise Some Patience 

Polamalu agrees with Eisen that the "being set in his ways" is actually something that players don't hate. They feel it makes him consistent and understandable. The goalposts aren't moving with Tomlin, everyone knows where they stand. In addition, the players know that Tomlin is always transparent with them and they know he is working as hard as they are.  

Hiring a new head coach does not guarantee that the Steelers will suddenly make it to another Super Bowl. The Steelers have a proud tradition of "standing by their man" and have only had three coaches in over 50 years. The Rooney's do not just cut bait and run every time they hit a rough patch. Both Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher had multiple losing seasons. Polamalu does understand where fans are coming from, however.  

"I can understand the argument about putting up Super Bowl rings, we're a city that's driven by championships. There are also, I think, a few different internal changes. We have Omar Khan being his first year as general manager and that partnership continuing to evolve. You've got the shakeup in the scouting department. The Steelers continue building that championship culture and I think it takes more patience. I think Coach Tomlin should see the evolution through."

It seems highly unlikely that the Steelers will move on from Tomlin and many feel that it is even more unlikely that Tomlin will walk away from the team at this point. There has been a lot of change on the team and in the organization as Polamalu mentioned. On top of the front office changes, quarterback Kenny Pickett is only in his second season and longtime backup Mason Rudolph has suddenly become hot. It is hard to imagine that Tomlin will drop all of this and move on.