The Pittsburgh Steelers have no plans to move on from Mike Tomlin, but could have a replacement in mind in case their longtime coach eventually decides to move on.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on a host of NFL coaching rumors, including the aspirations of Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. Russini reported that there are several NFL teams who would be interested in hiring him, including a surprise in Pittsburgh.
Marcus Freeman Could Find His Way to Pittsburgh
The Steelers would be several steps removed from hiring Freeman as head coach, Russini reported. The Notre Dame coach isn’t ready to leave South Bend, for one, and the Steelers plan to keep Tomlin and his NFL record of 19 consecutive seasons without a losing record.
But if Tomlin should decide to leave one day, the Steelers have already discussed the possibility of Freeman as their next coach.
“Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman seriously considered making the jump to the NFL, with multiple teams reaching out to gauge his interest, according to league sources,” Russini reported. “Though Freeman ultimately announced heâs staying at Notre Dame, thereâs a strong belief around the league that this wonât be the last time his name is connected to NFL opportunities. The Giants, Titans and Browns all had internal discussions about Freeman, as did the Pittsburgh Steelers (in the event longtime coach Mike Tomlin decided to step away).”
Freeman has built up considerable buzz over the last few seasons in South Bend, leading the Fighting Irish to the CFP title game last year and falling just short of the playoff bracket this season. Though he has remained committed to Notre Dame, many insiders expect him to eventually jump to the NFL.
Mike Tomlin on the Hot Seat?
There have been differing reports on Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh. His contract is set to expire after 2026 unless the team exercises a 2027 option in March, The Athletic’s Mike Sando noted, which could lead to an important decision on his future.
Sando noted that the Steelers likely waited too long to move on from legendary coach Chuck Noll amid the team’s downturn in the 1980s and early 1990s, and could face a “gut-wrenching” decision on Tomlin at some point soon.
“The Seattle Seahawks could become a model in this regard,” Sando wrote. “They parted with Pete Carroll after a 14-season run featuring nine playoff victories, two Super Bowl appearances and one championship over his first seven seasons, but just one playoff win thereafter.”
Sando noted that the Seahawks have found immediate success under Mike Macdonald, who has a 23-10 record through two seasons — “an improvement from Carrollâs 18-16 (.529) mark in his final two.”
The Steelers appeared to have an easy lane to a playoff berth this season, needing a win over the last-place Cleveland Browns last week to clinch. They instead struggled, losing 13-6 and setting up a winner-take-all game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
A loss would bring an end to a disappointing season, one where the Steelers took a big swing on signing future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers to lead the struggling offense.
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