Famous NFL coaching exits demonstrate why immunity is inappropriate for Mike Tomlin.
Pete Carroll, the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who won a Super Bowl, was fired this week, according to an announcement. Bill Belichick’s time as the New England Patriots’ head coach and general manager came to an official end less than twenty-four hours later.
These were two of the most recognizable NFL coaches still in existence. Because of his six Super Bowl rings and the dynasty he established in New England, Belichick is regarded as the best coach in the history of the sport.
Although it’s uncertain if Belichick or Carroll would want to coach somewhere else, their dismissals demonstrate one thing: Mike Tomlin shouldn’t be exempt from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ sanctions.
Mike Tomlin needs to be held accountable by the Steelers.
Throughout his 17-year tenure as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach, Mike Tomlin has without a doubt been among the league’s best coaches. He has yet to have a season without a loss; therefore, he maintained his unblemished record this year.
But in the end, all of that is irrelevant. The Steelers would have gone seven years without even one postseason victory if they fell to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card stage of the playoffs. Despite going so long without winning a postseason game, Tomlin is the NFL’s longest-serving head coach to still be employed by the same organization.
After a while, being an above-average team and plateauing is no longer sufficient. Because this is a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, the Steelers must perform well when it counts most. Compared to Mike Tomlin, Pete Carroll and Bill Belichick have both won postseason games more recently, and Belichick’s CV is the best of any NFL coach in history.
The stark contrast in postseason performance between these three head coaches is the most notable distinction. Take a look at the Patriots, Seahawks, and Steelers’ postseason performance over the previous 12 years. One of these things is not like the other, as they say on Sesame Street.
