Forest Hills resident Juan Hernandez says there is no suitable successor for Mike Tomlin, who stepped down Tuesday as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons.
Tomlin, 53, went 193-114-2 with the team, tying hall-of-famer and former Steelers leader Chuck Noll for ninth place on the NFL all-time career coaches wins list.
It’s only the third time since the 1960s that the Steelers are seeking a new head coach.
“There’s no replacement for Mike,” Hernandez said Tuesday. “I think he got the most from the players.”
The sentiment among many fans, however, is that a change in leadership is long overdue. Latrobe resident Dan Elder counts himself among those ready to turn the page
“It’s about time,” Elder said. “Over the past few years, every time we go to the playoffs, we always lose in the first game. After (Monday) night, it’s a good time for a change.”
Fans call for change
Springdale resident Pete Dukovich believes the Steelers should have parted ways with Tomlin sooner. Tomlin stepped down Tuesday, fresh off the Steelers’ 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans.
“I think the Rooneys stuck with him too long,” Dukovich said while dining at Primanti Bros. in Harmar. “I think the only reason he won a Super Bowl was because the players were already in place. And from what I gathered through the years, the team discipline just got worse.”
The Steelers are due for a reboot, Dukovich said.
“There will probably be some retirements,” he said. “I feel bad for the guys that have been here for a while … trying to win some playoff games.”
Kelly Mandarin, of Monessen is skeptical that it was Tomlin’s decision to step down.
“I think they said ‘quit or be fired,’” she said, “and I’m OK with that.”
Eric Weingrad of Pittsburgh said Tomlin gave the city all he had, but it wasn’t enough to get more than a Super Bowl with the team he inherited from Bill Cowher.
“I knew they wouldn’t fire him. And that’s for the better,” Weingrad said. “I think he’s a stellar human being. I think he wasn’t creative enough to get the big wins. That doesn’t mean trick plays. It means adjusting to what you’re seeing on the other side, find their holes and closing off yours.
“Anyway his (press conferences) were always entertaining, and he did give us some positive football memories, too,” he said.
Tomlin ‘might just be ready for a break’
Tim Dunn of White Oak received word of Tomlin’s resignation while shopping at Hempfield’s Westmoreland Mall with his wife. He speculated that the former head coach might end up working in sports media.
“I wonder if he might just be ready for a break from the scrutiny the NFL puts on head coaches and maybe is looking for an easier gig with the media or something like that,” said Dunn. “If he is doing that, I wish him well. And I hope he is much more relaxed and comfortable in his new life.”
Jim Gorton of Pittsburgh’s Regent Square neighborhood said Tomlin has had a good run, but rather than take a break, he anticipates Tomlin will have a headset of a different color in the near future.
“His record with the Steelers is good,” Gorton said. “And he seems to be a very level-headed person. I think he’s going to land on his feet, for sure.”
The road ahead
Greensburg resident AJ Scalfari is hopeful the Steelers will hire an offense-minded coach to develop former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, drafted by Pittsburgh last year.
“I think he just wore his time out, being there 19 years,” Scalfari said. “Just like the Penguins’ coach — they do good for so long, and then you’ve got to switch it up.”
Pittsburgh Penguins and former head coach Mike Sullivan agreed to part ways last April after 10 seasons.
Meighan Nelson of Pittsburgh’s North Side said Tomlin’s departure could be the start of the next era of Pittsburgh sports.
“This is the beginning of change for the next five years,” Nelson said. “We have a championship-winning soccer team. … I’m hoping the Pirates get new ownership. I look forward to seeing what the ‘Big Three’ do with the Penguins over the next few years.
“And Tomlin is just the beginning of this new era in Pittsburgh sports. Even though the outcome of Monday’s game wasn’t what we wanted, let’s not forget we had a winning coach for 19 seasons.”
Jeffrey and Rachel Fouse of Parks Township haven’t watched football religiously since Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger retired. Still, both believe Tomlin stepping down was the right move.
“I’d like to see somebody local who’s got the spark stand up, maybe get the spotlight,” Jeffrey said.
Dan Kwitowski of Clairton said that he’s sure there’s a segment of the Steelers fan base that’s “going to be very happy right now.”
“I wasn’t expecting to follow the Steelers too closely this off-season,” he said, “and now I am.”