Steelers boss Mike Tomlin has been told he should quit Pittsburgh – and end the longest active coaching tenure across America’s big four leagues.
The 53-year-old has been in charge of the Steelers since 2007 and led Pittsburgh to victory at Super Bowl XLIII. He has also gone a unprecedented 18 consecutive seasons without a losing record.
But former NFL safety Ryan Clark believes Tomlin’s message has gone ‘stale’. ESPN star Clark argues that Tomlin needs to emulate Andy Reid, who in 2012 was fired by the Eagles after 14 years – and then joined the Kansas City Chiefs.
Reid has taken the Chiefs to five Super Bowls in the past six seasons, winning three. Under Tomlin, meanwhile, the Steelers have failed to go past the wildcard round of the playoffs since 2017.
Clark believes Tomlin has made it impossible for Pittsburgh to fire him and claims the coach must end their long marriage himself.
‘I say this – and people will get mad at me – I believe that Mike Tomlin is un-fire-able,’ Clark said on ESPN.
“As great as a coach he is, and he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I believe his voice has run stale [in Pittsburgh].”@Realrclark25 believes Mike Tomlin needs to have his “Andy Reid-Kansas City run” on another team 😯 pic.twitter.com/WQMF44pjPe
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 15, 2025
Steelers boss Mike Tomlin has been told he should quit Pittsburgh by ESPN star Ryan Clark
‘He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer… (but) I believe his voice has run stale there,’ Clark said
‘I believe if Mike Tomlin steps away from being the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, that should be his decision and I’ve said time and time again: I do believe that should be the decision he makes.
‘I believe Mike Tomlin should coach in another organization. Mike Tomlin should be a fresh voice somewhere else. Because I believe – as great a coach he is, and he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer – I believe his voice has run stale there.
‘I believe he has allowed that team to reach the highest of heights they’re going to reach unless they can get a top-tier quarterback… he needs to go have his Andy Reid, Kansas City run.’
The Steelers’ last four playoff runs – since 2020 – have all ended in the wildcard round of the playoffs. They have lost by a combined 60 points.
‘The biggest piece to me, the most telling piece about those games is the deficits they faced in all those playoff games,’ Clark said.
‘So what is that? Not being prepared? Not being talented enough? They have to find the answer.’
