Steelers Didn't Receive An Official Trade Request From The Bears For Mike Tomlin: "There Was No Rebuffing"

Many Pittsburgh Steelers fans were dismayed when ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter broke the news that the organization "rebuffed" an offer from the Chicago Bears to make a trade for Head Coach Mike Tomlin. While he only named the Bears, Schefter said there was more than one team interested. Fans who believe that Tomlin has lost his touch have been hoping for an opportunity like this. 

The Steelers are known to stand by their head coaches and the team extended Tomlin's contract before the 2024 season for an additional three years. Tomlin is the second-winningest current NFL coach, winning 191 out of 311 games played, including the postseason. He has won the division seven times, the conference twice, and has taken the Steelers to two Super Bowls, winning one. 

However, his postseason victories have dropped off over the past several years. While Tomlin's non-losing season record is often praised, fans in Pittsburgh see Lombardi Trophies as the true measure of success. They hoped the trade would bring a windfall of draft picks that would allow them to bring in more talent. 

Gerry Dulac, the longtime Steelers reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, recently joined Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show on 102.5 WDVE and was asked about the trade inquiry. The Bears are interviewing everyone possible, hoping to find their coach of the future, but for fans, this was confirmation that there is a circumstance where a trade could occur. Dulac said that's not the case. 

"The only way some trade would happen is if Mike Tomlin wants out of his deal and there's no indication that that is the case," explained Dulac. "The second thing is, this is an example of the Bears owner, not the GMs calling because that didn't happen, there no official trade request, and plus, if that's the case, where does tampering become involved? But the Bears owner calls Art Rooney and says, 'Hey Art, would you ever think of trading... Hello? Hello?' And that was about the extent of the Bears inquiring about the trade of Mike Tomlin. I love that Adam Schefter used the word, and I'm not picking on him, he used the word 'rebuffed' like he was denied entrance to a concert or something. There was no rebuffing. It was kind of like it ain't happening and that's the end of that conversation."

Tomlin told the media during a recent press conference that he understands why fans are frustrated because he feels the same way. However, he said that any teams that are interested in offering him a job can just keep moving, he's not interested. He plans to stay in Pittsburgh for as long as they will keep him.  

When Schefter reported that Art Rooney II turned down an offer for Tomlin, he said that the team disclosed he has a no-trade clause in his contract. Dulac agreed that coaches often have those to avoid going to a team that has mortgaged their entire future to bring them on board. Tomlin certainly wouldn't want to go into a situation doomed to fail. 

Who Are The Steelers' Scapegoats Going To Be?

After the 2023 season ended with a Wild Card loss, Rooney said continuing to fall short in the postseason is unacceptable. The Steelers lost their final four regular season games, making a win in the playoffs feel unlikely. 

It seems as if the team will need to make some kind of change or changes to the coaching staff. However, the Steelers rarely let go of coaches who are under contract, which likely eliminates Teryl Austin and Arthur Smith. 

While some think that Offensive Line Coach Pat Meyer could be fired, others feel sorry for these "scapegoats," citing that Tomlin has his hands in the play-calling on both sides of the ball. There is also the possibility the team will hire a special assistant to help out like they did with Brian Flores.