Mike Tomlin accepts responsibility for Steelers struggles in goodbyes
After 19 seasons, Mike Tomlin stepped down as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. He wasn’t fired and he didn’t leave after an awful season. Tomlin walked away on his terms after helping lead the Steelers to an AFC North title. But even with that, he recognized that for the good of the team, it was time for him to move on.
ESPN reporter Brooke Pryor shared some behind-the-scenes from Tomlin’s final day with the team and some players spoke anonymously about what Tomlin told the team.
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According to one player, Tomlin’s final speech to the Steelers included his admission that the team needs to grow without him. “You deserve better, and right now I can’t deliver; someone else has to move the franchise forward.”
The debate has always been about just how good of a coach Tomlin was. Tomlin’s critics point to Tomlin leaving on his own as some sort of evidence against his greatness. The reality is Tomlin can be a Hall of Fame head coach and it could still be time for him to move on. Both things can be true at the same time.
Tomlin maintained the status quo for many years in Pittsburgh but despite all the talk players have about how much they loved having him as a coach and playing for him. However, this often didn’t manifest into effort on the field. Tomlin had to have recognized that he wasn’t getting the most out of his players anymore and decided it was time to pass the torch.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Mike Tomlin accepts responsibility for Steelers struggles in goodbyes