The Official 2025 Off-Season Thread

[Backside]

Lmfao so what will Tomlins players be saying in 25 years.

“We almost kept that playoff loss within 10 points!”

You’re not keeping your logic straight whatsoever right now…

[Central_Buc]

My thing with Tomlin is who are you comparing him against? Can't be many current coaches because if you're saying he should be fired because of his resume, then you must feel most everyone other organization needs to start over as well. ESPECIALLY if rings are the standard for determining if someone keeps their jobs or not.

The more I think about it, the more I hope it happens. Can you imagine?
Players try to keep a chip on their shoulder to give them an edge.
Tomlin, having never posted a losing record, gets fired.

Bring
Him
Here

Let him see anyone in the building not giving 200% ...

Respectfully no thank you. Atleast the Glazers are not the Rooneys I'm thankful for that.

I'll give Tomlin 3 years before the Glazers see him for what he was, a below average defensive coordinator for the Vikings who had the 31st pass D in 06 when he was there.

Especially someone who doesn't hire good coordinators. At least Bowles puts more work in.

No thanks!

[Central_Buc]

Lmfao so what will Tomlins players be saying in 25 years.

“We almost kept that playoff loss within 10 points!”

You’re not keeping your logic straight whatsoever right now…

The media is starting to notice his inconsistencies now despite his never had a losing year.

[Bootz]

Lmfao so what will Tomlins players be saying in 25 years.

“We almost kept that playoff loss within 10 points!”

You’re not keeping your logic straight whatsoever right now…

The logic is pretty clear: Players and people involved want to win Superbowls. YOU inserted some silly falsehood that playoff wins are something that gets held in high regard by people in the league once they retire. So your position that the Bills or Texans have more to show than the Steelers is ridiculous.

[Bootz]

The more I think about it, the more I hope it happens. Can you imagine?
Players try to keep a chip on their shoulder to give them an edge.
Tomlin, having never posted a losing record, gets fired.

Bring
Him
Here

Let him see anyone in the building not giving 200% ...

Respectfully no thank you. Atleast the Glazers are not the Rooneys I'm thankful for that.

I'll give Tomlin 3 years before the Glazers see him for what he was, a below average defensive coordinator for the Vikings who had the 31st pass D in 06 when he was there.

Especially someone who doesn't hire good coordinators. At least Bowles puts more work in.

No thanks!

This position tells me you have a number. A specific number of years a HC should have before they win the big one. It can't just be playoff wins because again, there's nothing to show there.

So what's the number of years in your opinion would you say a HC should have?

[Backside]

Lmfao so what will Tomlins players be saying in 25 years.

“We almost kept that playoff loss within 10 points!”

You’re not keeping your logic straight whatsoever right now…

The logic is pretty clear: Players and people involved want to win Superbowls. YOU inserted some silly falsehood that playoff wins are something that gets held in high regard by people in the league once they retire. So your position that the Bills or Texans have more to show than the Steelers is ridiculous.

Cmon man…

Okay so just explain why you think the Steelers are some super successful franchise recently if by your own logic they’ve been failures who haven’t come close to even sniffing a Super Bowl.

[Backside]

Going over .500 and making the playoffs just to get blown out is great, an indicator of success.

But winning playoff games is completely meaningless and doesn’t matter at all.

Please explain how that logic works.

[Central_Buc]

Going over .500 and making the playoffs just to get blown out is great, an indicator of success.

But winning playoff games is completely meaningless and doesn’t matter at all.

Please explain how that logic works.

Their D has given up 40+ ppg in the playoffs on average since 2017.

I'm surprised there aren't more billboards up.

[Doctor]

13 teams "fail in the playoffs" every year. 18 teams before that.

This is a GAME. Only one winner, by design, no matter how many are worthy or good enough.

Getting to the dance, even with a franchise QB, is hard on its own in this league. Without one? And consistently. Incredible.

[Grahamburn]

Losing with bad players is an impressive feat for some around here.

[Doctor]

People act like there are just all these easy solutions floating around every offseason.

"Just go get a QB"
"Just go get a pass rusher"

And then they get mad when a HC hasn't pushed the instant fix button.


There's some gross romanticizing about "blowing it all up". That somehow its okay to be losing and finding yourself, but if your finding yourself while still winning and competing then you're "nightmare mediocre".

Tomlin has been far more impressive post Ben than BB was post Brady or Carroll post Wilson.

[Central_Buc]

I have Doc on ignore but all I see is excuse making for a coach that gets a lifetime job with no repercussions. Pittsburgh fans have a right to be upset with their owners.

[__Chef__]

Tomlin has been far more impressive post Ben than BB was post Brady or Carroll post Wilson.

This.

I used to look at Belichick's year where Brady went down and they continued to win 11 games as an obvious tell for where the credit was due. But Brady was still on the team, still scouting defenses, still giving his teammates tips, still helping his team win.

After Brady:
7-9
10-7
8-9
4-13

That's 3 more losing seasons than Mike Tomlin has had in his career.

[Central_Buc]

Tomlin has been far more impressive post Ben than BB was post Brady or Carroll post Wilson.

This.

I used to look at Belichick's year where Brady went down and they continued to win 11 games as an obvious tell for where the credit was due. But Brady was still on the team, still scouting defenses, still giving his teammates tips, still helping his team win.

After Brady:
7-9
10-7
8-9
4-13

That's 3 more losing seasons than Mike Tomlin has had in his career.

Belichick has been in the league longer. In as
many SB since what 1990? (Giants DC upsetting Buffalo)Ask Pittsburgh fans (i personally know a couple) No one cares about the week 17 victory in Carolina 2 years ago that preserved the NHALS. They still missed the playoffs..It's a meme for them.

Tomlin also has the highest paid defense in the league and still got picked apart by their rivals.

[__Chef__]

Belichick has been in the league longer.

Oh I know ...
Before Brady he had 5 more losing seasons as HC.

Am I arguing Mike Tomlin is a better coach than BB?

Of course not.

This is merely highlighting the truly remarkable job that Tomlin has done.

Not a single losing season, no matter what.

Reid can't say that, Belichick can't say that, Don Shula can't say that.

Vince Lombardi is the only one I can think of.

That's rare company.

[Backside]

We’ve really lost the plot.

You can like Tomlin as a coach, I think he’s a good one. It was the assertion that basically every team sans the Chiefs would be looking at the Steelers ‘success’ of being above .500 and making the playoffs, with envy that I took issue with. And the ensuing argument that nothing matters except competing for Super Bowls did not help the Steelers/Tomlin argument whatsoever. They probably don’t crack the top 10 for franchise success over the last decade. And any team who has won a playoff game since the last time Pittsburgh did has objectively been more successful than the Steelers in the same time period.

[Central_Buc]

Belichick has been in the league longer.

Oh I know ...
Before Brady he had 5 more losing seasons as HC.

Am I arguing Mike Tomlin is a better coach than BB?

Of course not.

This is merely highlighting the truly remarkable job that Tomlin has done.

Not a single losing season, no matter what.

Reid can't say that, Belichick can't say that, Don Shula can't say that.

Vince Lombardi is the only one I can think of.

That's rare company.

Fair point but I also would like to point out that Reid and Tomlin had not done Jack as coordinators. (I'll admit that as a Reid fan)

But Tomlins predecessor Cowher and Belichick grew as coordinators. Cowher worked with Marty S in KC for 3 years as DC and had success. These were the Derrek Thomas days and that was a sweet defense.

Belichick won SBs as a coordinator.

You can't hold Cleveland (or Reid in Philly) against them. They both took on a project.

Tomlin was gifted a super bowl roster when he got there in 07.

[Bootz]

@Backside

The plot was lost when you indicated playoff wins were somehow some peak that people in this league aspire to reach.

[Backside]

@Backside

The plot was lost when you indicated playoff wins were somehow some peak that people in this league aspire to reach.

Your reading comprehension needs some work. But yes, making and winning Super Bowls does indeed require winning playoff games.


I know you’ve stopped responding because even with your impressive mental gymnastics you can’t possibly defend your assertion that the Steelers have been successful recently while also saying that nothing matters except Super Bowls without completely collapsing under your own logic contradiciton.

[Central_Buc]

@Backside

The plot was lost when you indicated playoff wins were somehow some peak that people in this league aspire to reach.

Your reading comprehension needs some work. But yes, making and winning Super Bowls does indeed require winning playoff games.


I know you’ve stopped responding because even with your impressive mental gymnastics you can’t possibly defend your assertion that the Steelers have been successful recently while also saying that nothing matters except Super Bowls without completely collapsing under your own logic contradiciton.

Baker never had a losing season with the Bucs but everyone here hates him

[Central_Buc]

@Backside

The plot was lost when you indicated playoff wins were somehow some peak that people in this league aspire to reach.

Your reading comprehension needs some work. But yes, making and winning Super Bowls does indeed require winning playoff games.


I know you’ve stopped responding because even with your impressive mental gymnastics you can’t possibly defend your assertion that the Steelers have been successful recently while also saying that nothing matters except Super Bowls without completely collapsing under your own logic contradiciton.

The ignore feature is pretty good because they talk in the void.

[Grahamburn]

We’ve really lost the plot.

You can like Tomlin as a coach, I think he’s a good one. It was the assertion that basically every team sans the Chiefs would be looking at the Steelers ‘success’ of being above .500 and making the playoffs, with envy that I took issue with. And the ensuing argument that nothing matters except competing for Super Bowls did not help the Steelers/Tomlin argument whatsoever. They probably don’t crack the top 10 for franchise success over the last decade. And any team who has won a playoff game since the last time Pittsburgh did has objectively been more successful than the Steelers in the same time period.

They are 3rd in regular season wins over the last 10 years.

[Bootz]

Your reading comprehension needs some work. But yes, making and winning Super Bowls does indeed require winning playoff games.


I know you’ve stopped responding because even with your impressive mental gymnastics you can’t possibly defend your assertion that the Steelers have been successful recently while also saying that nothing matters except Super Bowls without completely collapsing under your own logic contradiciton.

Baker never had a losing season with the Bucs but everyone here hates him

Pretty sure that number is 2.

[Backside]

We’ve really lost the plot.

You can like Tomlin as a coach, I think he’s a good one. It was the assertion that basically every team sans the Chiefs would be looking at the Steelers ‘success’ of being above .500 and making the playoffs, with envy that I took issue with. And the ensuing argument that nothing matters except competing for Super Bowls did not help the Steelers/Tomlin argument whatsoever. They probably don’t crack the top 10 for franchise success over the last decade. And any team who has won a playoff game since the last time Pittsburgh did has objectively been more successful than the Steelers in the same time period.

They are 3rd in regular season wins over the last 10 years.

If playoff wins don’t matter then regular season wins sure as hell don’t.

[Central_Buc]

We’ve really lost the plot.

You can like Tomlin as a coach, I think he’s a good one. It was the assertion that basically every team sans the Chiefs would be looking at the Steelers ‘success’ of being above .500 and making the playoffs, with envy that I took issue with. And the ensuing argument that nothing matters except competing for Super Bowls did not help the Steelers/Tomlin argument whatsoever. They probably don’t crack the top 10 for franchise success over the last decade. And any team who has won a playoff game since the last time Pittsburgh did has objectively been more successful than the Steelers in the same time period.

They are 3rd in regular season wins over the last 10 years.

Who cares. Highest paid D gives up 40+ a game in the playoffs since 2017. No playoff wins in 8 years

[Central_Buc]

I currently tease my friends who are Steelers fans about how Baker lit them up in the playoffs in 2020 but they digress and really want Tomlin gone.

They hope we get rid of Baker so they can pick him up.

[__Chef__]

Tomlin was gifted a super bowl roster when he got there in 07.

Did he not take the team to two Superbowls himself, winning one of them?

Doesn't this in itself prove that with the right roster and coordinators, Tomlin can push a team over the edge?

[Central_Buc]

Tomlin was gifted a super bowl roster when he got there in 07.

Did he not take the team to two Superbowls himself, winning one of them?

Doesn't this in itself prove that with the right roster and coordinators, Tomlin can push a team over the edge?

He's a rah rah sish komb bab bullshitter, he needed the likes of Arians and Lebeau to carry him on those runs.

I'm telling you he's fake. That's why no good coordinator wants to go there. He has some help in Rooney II (now it's misguided) to keep them relevant. But it's a hampster wheel to no where.

[__Chef__]

I'm telling you he's fake.

Maybe.

Maybe he's just one lucky guy that managed to never have a losing record for his entire HC career spanning nearly 20 years.
If so, he should retire early and hang his hat next to Lombardi as the only other coach to have ever done it.

[Central_Buc]

I'm telling you he's fake.

Maybe.

Maybe he's just one lucky guy that managed to never have a losing record for his entire HC career spanning nearly 20 years.
If so, he should retire early and hang his hat next to Lombardi as the only other coach to have ever done it.

Until he goes somewhere where he has to take a bad team and make them better is where I'll see it the way you do and say I was wrong.

[__Chef__]

...Reid and Tomlin had not done Jack as coordinators. (I'll admit that as a Reid fan)

But Tomlins predecessor Cowher and Belichick grew as coordinators. Cowher worked with Marty S in KC for 3 years as DC and had success. These were the Derrek Thomas days and that was a sweet defense.

Belichick won SBs as a coordinator.

Harbaugh with the Ravens also never did anything as a coordinator ... Does that diminish his SB victory or make him less of a HC?

I'll agree Tomlin should be looking to improve his coordinator positions, but the engine of a team is their QB ... since Ben, they haven't had one.
Even teams that have great QB's ... doesn't guarantee rings.
How many rings did Don Shula get with Marino?
How many rings did Favre get?
Aaron Rodgers?
Drew Brees?

The point is the league is designed to balance out imbalance and against dynasties.
And it's hard to win consistently.

[__Chef__]

Until he goes somewhere where he has to take a bad team and make them better is where I'll see it the way you do and say I was wrong.

That is the truest test.

What impact did a coach make before and after with the same roster.

[Grahamburn]

They are 3rd in regular season wins over the last 10 years.

Who cares. Highest paid D gives up 40+ a game in the playoffs since 2017. No playoff wins in 8 years

Ok? I was responding to a post that suggested they weren’t one of the better franchises over the last decade.

I guess it depends how you want to measure it? If it’s year in and year out consistency they clearly are.

[Grahamburn]

They are 3rd in regular season wins over the last 10 years.

If playoff wins don’t matter then regular season wins sure as hell don’t.

I think you’re both right. :shrug:

[Central_Buc]

Who cares. Highest paid D gives up 40+ a game in the playoffs since 2017. No playoff wins in 8 years

Ok? I was responding to a post that suggested they weren’t one of the better franchises over the last decade.

I guess it depends how you want to measure it? If it’s year in and year out consistency they clearly are.

Just talk to their fans...they could care less about the RS accolades. If we lost the SB in 02 would we go back and reminisce how great the regular season we had then? I doubt it!

For them it's Bill Murray's groundhogs day

Edit: I mean to a degree, sure we look back at 02 and say we had fun watching them that year because we hadn't had much to cheer about in our existence but that doesn't make Steelers fans wrong nor as fans of the Bucs to see that if you are capable of contending you need to Atleast win in the postseason. And show progression. Failure is ok but rebuild is needed after failure. And a clean sweep of everything else.