A week ago today, ESPN insider Adam Schefter suggested other NFL teams could come calling about Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
"And one other coaching note, I think there are going to be teams that have watched the way that the Pittsburgh Steelers season has ended and wonder whether they should call the Steelers to see if they should inquire about whether the Steelers would be willing to move on from Mike Tomlin and move him to another organization," Schefter said.
Fast forward to a week later and Schefter offered an update following the Steelers embarrassing 28-14 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
During a hit on ESPN this morning Schefter revealed that a team did, in fact, call the Steelers to check in on a possible Tomlin trade.
"One did and was told that Mike Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract," Schefter said when referencing his report from last week. "Anything that would happen in Pittsburgh involving Mike Tomlin would come with his consent and his consent only. A loss like last night might further teams to look into it, but Pittsburgh hasn't given any indication that it wants to move on from Mike Tomlin and this has been the most patient franchise, not just in football, but maybe sports."
The questions about Tomlin's future come following yet another one-and-done in the playoffs, the same fate the team has suffered in five straight playoff appearances. Pittsburgh hasn't won a playoff game since 2016 when it made the AFC title game against the New England Patriots.
While Tomlin is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the league, his lack of success in the playoffs has Steelers fans calling for change.
Fans Urge Steelers To Replace Mike Tomlin With Prominent Head Coach Candidate
The Steelers trailed 21-0 at halftime, and nothing was clicking for them seemingly all game long.
Suddenly, questions are swirling about head coach Mike Tomlin, especially after five straight losses to end the year and the fact the Steelers have lost six straight playoff games.
The last postseason win came on January 15, 2017, in the Divisional Round over the Kansas City Chiefs.
As such, Steelers fans wasted no time calling for Tomlin to be fired. On top of that, they also made a plea for Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to be the new coach if the job opens up.
"Go get Ben Johnson @steelers," one fan wrote.
"Get Ben Johnson. Guarantee he’d rather come here than Chicago or Jacksonville," said another.
"It’s time for the Steelers to get with the times and become a modern team.. Ben Johnson is literally sitting their waiting for them to call," said another.
"The Steelers need to move on from Tomlin. I know I’m just a voice in the wind, but it’s true. Hire a young coach with great ideas. Like Ben Johnson. Can you imagine him with the Steelers organization? It might take a couple of years, but we wouldn’t be losing in the first round," another Steelers fan said.
"Ben Johnson to the Steelers???? Please @steelers," another wrote.
"is it too late for the Steelers to get in on the Ben Johnson sweepstakes?" asked another.
Johnson is a hot commodity, and the Lions OC has already interviewed for the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots openings and is expected to be a target for the Las Vegas Raiders as well after the reports involving Tom Brady.
Johnson's been a name to watch this cycle, and he has spent time as an assistant with Boston College and the Miami Dolphins before going to Detroit in 2019.
If the Steelers' job does open up, it sure would be an interesting one to watch.
