Mike Tomlin is proof that NFL homeowners’ unwillingness to rent extra Black coaches is a silly and willful determination

If Mike Tomlin had been white, he’d be on the Mount Rushmore of NFL coaches and it wouldn’t be debatable.

For near 20 years, he’s survived in a league that’s always confirmed that they don’t need males like him round in positions of energy, been to 2 Tremendous Bowls, and is the youngest coach in NFL history to lift the Lombardi Trophy.

Nonetheless, the factor that units Tomlin other than his friends is his consistency. Regardless of free company, rising wage caps, and taking part in in a league that’s designed to create parity, the Steelers have by no means been a foul soccer workforce throughout Tomlin’s tenure. Resulting from Monday evening’s 26-14 win over the Browns, it assured that for the fifteenth straight 12 months Tomlin will finish the season with not less than a .500 document, one thing no different coach in NFL historical past has achieved to start out their careers.

“Not as I sit right here right now, and I say that humbly,” Tomlin said on Tuesday when requested in regards to the which means of reaching the mark. “Our agenda, this 12 months, is to get into [the] single-elimination match after which pit our abilities in opposition to others in that single-elimination match in an effort to win the world championship. That’s our mentality yearly.

“And so with that mentality, it’s simply sure {hardware} that you simply anticipate to choose up alongside the way in which. And in the event you don’t, you’d be severely dissatisfied. That’s simply an expectation that we now have right here in Pittsburgh.”

To make the playoffs, the Steelers want just a few issues to go their manner, together with a win over the Ravens on Sunday, together with a Jaguars victory over the Colts, and for the Chargers/Raiders sport to not finish in a tie. Relying on Jacksonville is what’s going to seemingly hold Tomlin from his tenth postseason look in 15 years. However but, regardless of all he’s completed, Tomlin is consistently disrespected, like when he was asked about the USC job last fall. Solely Black individuals are anticipated to be enthusiastic about potential jobs that can change into a lateral transfer or a demotion.

“Anyone asking Sean Payton about that, ya know? Anyone asking Andy Reid about stuff like that?” requested Tomlin.

The rationale Tomlin talked about these white Tremendous Bowl-winning coaches is as a result of he’s higher than them, but they don’t need to cope with trivial questions and speculations about school jobs which might be beneath them like he does. In whole, Tomlin is 153-85-2 for a profitable proportion of .642. By comparability, Payton’s profitable pct. is .629, whereas Reid’s is .632. And in case you had been questioning, Reid has three dropping seasons on his resume and Payton has 4. Tomlin? None. And in contrast to Reid and Payton, Tomlin doesn’t get as a lot media consideration as different coaches within the league regardless of having a greater resume. You gained’t discover him in too many nationwide commercials as a pitch man.

After which there are the pointless pictures that Tomlin has taken through the years from folks like former Steeler Terry Bradshaw, who as soon as mentioned that Tomlin “was not his kind of coach” and referred to him as a cheerleader.

“I feel he’s not only a nice Black head coach, he’s an incredible head coach,” Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said in 2020. “It’s one factor to be the all-time winningest Black head coach, however this dude deserves greater than sufficient credit score. To by no means have a dropping season, to get probably the most out of his gamers. It’s not simply first-rounders that wound up taking part in nice right here. He’s had fifth [round], sixth, undrafted guys who’ve achieved nicely.

“I do know lots of people prefer to say he inherited an incredible workforce, however take into consideration different individuals who have inherited nice groups. Take into consideration the basketball groups that Phil Jackson would take over. That’s not a shot at him, however when you’ll be able to lead a gaggle of males and lead them the correct manner, that claims lots about the kind of coach you’re.”

When Michigan State signed Mel Tucker to a 10-year, $95 million deal in November, it made him the highest-paid Black coach in American sports – which is a gamechanger. And whereas Tomlin is the highest-paid Black coach within the NFL making $8 million a 12 months, it’s laughable that anyone exterior of Invoice Belichick – $12.5 million – makes greater than him yearly, as Pete Carroll brings house $11 million whereas Payton is at $9.8 million.

(whispers) Pete Carroll has 4 dropping seasons in his profession. It’s time for Pittsburgh to chop the verify and begin paying Mike Tomlin like he’s a white man.