Logo

Ryan Clark Blasts Mike, Says It’s Time for Mike Tomlin To Go

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that increasingly favors innovation and offensive ingenuity, some are beginning to wonder if his approach has grown outdated in the Steel City.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.

Comments (0)

Loading comments...

Packers' Star QB Refuses MVP Title to Fully Focus on Team in Tough Phase
Can you believe it? Jordan Love, the "red-hot" quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, is on track to compete for MVP with +1000 odds at DraftKings – but this guy is "refusing" personal glory to pour all his energy into the team struggling with a "hellish" schedule! Is this a heroic act or just a ploy? Read now to uncover the "truth" behind it! In the Super Bowl era, the Packers have produced three MVP legends: Bart Starr (1966), Brett Favre (1995-1997), and Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). Now, Jordan Love has a chance to become the fourth, putting the Packers on par with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts – the only team with four QB MVPs like Johnny Unitas, Earl Morrall, Bert Jones, and Peyton Manning. With his current "explosive" form, Love ranks fourth in the NFL for passer rating (105.4), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (22), with only four interceptions – the fewest among QBs starting all 13 games, and a 67.1% completion rate ranking seventh. But instead of "dreaming" of MVP, Love seems to be "rejecting" it! In a recent interview, he emphasized: "These are the most important games of the season, obviously with a lot of things coming down to playoff seeding and the division race, so this is the important football. I think it’s everybody, we keep stacking and keep getting better and better throughout the season and learn from the mistakes we make and overcome some of the obstacles. Just keep stacking and trying to find ways to get better every day is something that’s been helping us." These words are like a clear "declaration": Love doesn't care about MVP, but only wants to focus on the team in its "tough phase" with a 9-3-1 record, trailing the Rams (10-3) in the NFC. Head coach Matt LaFleur also "sings along": "Yeah, he’s playing really good football right now. That’s obviously important and it’s going to be important moving forward." And offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich praises the consistency: "I would say just the consistency that he’s had has been great... Just being a consistent, efficient quarterback is one thing that I’ve been really pleased with." But it's Packers defensive end Micah Parsons who "reveals" why Love deserves but is "overlooking" MVP: "I definitely think he deserves recognition... If you go off strength of schedule, how he's played and with him missing half his receivers, I think that goes unnoticed, too. Some of the things he did without (Christian Watson) early in the year, then (Jayden Reed), so this guy was missing two of his starting receivers majority of the year and they're just now getting back in these last eight weeks of the stretch, so I definitely think he deserves a lot more credit and I'm just happy I'm able to be a part of this journey with him." Currently, Matthew Stafford of the Rams leads the MVP race with -180 odds, 35 touchdown passes (far ahead of Dak Prescott with 26), passer rating 113.1, and only four interceptions. Drake Maye of the Patriots follows with +200, passer rating 111.9, 3,412 passing yards, and 23 touchdowns. Love, with a four-game winning streak (nine touchdowns, one interception, passer rating 112.1), could stage a comeback if he maintains "red-hot form" – especially in the upcoming two "epic" games: away at Denver (11-2) and Chicago (9-4). If the Packers leap to the NFC's No. 1 seed (likely needing a 4-0 finish), while the Rams stumble against Detroit (8-5) and Seattle (10-3), or the Patriots slip against Buffalo (9-4) and Baltimore (6-7), Love would have a shot at MVP. But with his "humble" attitude, does Love really want to "accept" that title? Or is he sacrificing personally to save the Packers from the "tough phase"? The 2025 NFL drama is "hotter than ever"! Do you think Love is "playing a trick" to motivate the team? Comment now and follow for the "shocking" outcome of the MVP race!