ESPN analyst and former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark took a surprisingly critical stance regarding Mike Tomlin’s future in Pittsburgh, suggesting that the longtime head coach’s message may no longer be resonating within the organization.
“As great a coach as he is, and he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer, I believe his voice has run stale in Pittsburgh,” Clark said during a segment on First Take this week.
The comment raised eyebrows, especially coming from Clark, who not only played under Tomlin during his NFL career, but has historically been one of his most vocal defenders amid public scrutiny. Clark went on to say that he doesn’t believe that the Steelers will fire Tomlin, that he should look to move on, citing the success Andy Reid has had with the Kansas City Chiefs after leaving the Philadelphia Eagles.
Tomlin is entering his 19th season as the Steelers’ head coach, making him the longest-tenured coach in the NFL. Over nearly two decades, he has built an impressive résumé: two Super Bowl appearances, one championship, and, most notably, no losing seasons.
However, despite his regular-season consistency, postseason success has largely eluded Pittsburgh in recent years. The Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016–17 season, when they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round. Since then, the pattern has become frustratingly familiar—squeaking into the postseason with a record just above .500, only to get blown out in the Wild Card round by more dominant teams like Buffalo or Kansas City.
While Tomlin deserves credit for keeping the Steelers competitive in the post–Ben Roethlisberger era, his inability to elevate the team beyond mediocrity in the playoffs has prompted some, like Clark, to question whether maintaining the status quo is worth it.
Tomlin has long been known for his unique leadership style, player-friendly culture, and resilient locker rooms. But in an evolving league that increasingly favors innovation and offensive ingenuity, some are beginning to wonder if his approach has grown outdated in the Steel City.
Whether or not the organization agrees remains to be seen, but Clark’s comments have added fuel to a conversation that has been quietly simmering in Pittsburgh for years.
