Redskins: 30 candidates who could potentially replace Jay Gruden as head coach
55. . Head Coach. Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin. 5. player
Previously: Unranked
It seems that Tomlin would be Dan Snyder’s guy if the Steelers are to move onto him. He is a big name and Snyder tends to like those types of splashy acquisitions.
That said, Tomlin may not be the best man for the Redskins job. While he was once one of the stronger coaches in the NFL, he has regressed in recent seasons to become more average. His coaching decisions can be curious and sometimes, his teams just don’t look prepared to play.
The Steelers themselves have a 128-70-1 record under Tomlin, but they have struggled to convert in high-leverage situations since their Super Bowl run in 2010. Since the 2012 postseason, Tomlin is 3-5 in the playoffs and hasn’t been able to get past the juggernaut Patriots in the AFC.
The other question for Tomlin is, how will he deal with uncertainty at quarterback? The Steelers have always had Ben Roethlisberger during his time and while he has occasionally been banged-up, he always came back. If Tomlin and his staff can’t develop Dwayne Haskins, that could really put a damper on the ‘Skins’ future.
Despite Tomlin’s shortcomings, he could still be a solid coach and he does have positives. After all, he was able to mostly hold together a locker room featuring Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown amid all of their respective drama. So, in a workplace like the Redskins have, it could be good to have someone who can silence the drama.
Tomlin’s availability will depend on how the Steelers finish the season. Currently, they’re 3-4 and are entering a crucial game against the Indianapolis Colts. But if they miss the postseason with Tomlin, perhaps the Redskins could lure him to the nation’s capital, though they may have to surrender compensation to do so, which would be far from ideal.
Overall, Tomlin is a decent candidate who the front office is a lot higher on than most. If the Redskins do bring him aboard, they should make sure they don’t overpay for his services.