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Brooke Pryor, ESPN Employees Author
PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin is not going wherever.
Days after strolling out of a postgame information convention throughout a query about his future, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach mentioned that his hearth for the job has “intensified” and that he expects to get a contract extension this offseason.
“I anticipate to be again, and I’d think about that these contract issues are going to run their course,” Tomlin mentioned at his end-of-season information convention Thursday. “Artwork [Rooney II] and I’ve a extremely good, clear relationship. We talk regularly usually. I do not think about it should be a difficulty, and I think about it should get finished in a well timed method on the acceptable time, however my mindset is to teach his soccer staff.”
Rooney later advised the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the staff does “plan to increase Mike’s contract.”
Tomlin additionally defined his walk-off throughout the remaining query of the information convention after the wild-card loss to the Buffalo Payments and acknowledged that he did not deal with it effectively.
“I definitely may have dealt with that state of affairs higher than I did,” Tomlin mentioned. “However I am going to additionally say this, I simply imagine there is a time and place for all the things and postgame press conferences are most likely not the place to handle contract points and issues of that nature. It is only a very particular person factor, and on sport day I doubt any of us are in that mindset, Definitely I’m not.”
Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension in 2021, tying him to the staff by means of the 2024 season. Outdoors hypothesis swirled late within the season that the coach would possibly think about stepping away for a 12 months after the 2023 season, however Tomlin laughed and responded with a easy, “no” when requested whether or not he had advised anybody he had thought-about taking a break.
“I perceive hypothesis is a part of what it’s that we do,” Tomlin mentioned. “I strive to not get caught up in it or distracted by it, notably when it isn’t the place I am at. And in order that’s been my mindset relating to it.”
Tomlin, who’s set to enter his 18th season because the Steelers’ head coach, mentioned his course of for evaluating his future on the finish of every season hasn’t modified.
“I coach soccer; that is what I do,” Tomlin mentioned. “I am respectful of the place that I maintain. I’ve no sense of entitlement when it comes to what I do. I simply received a excessive stage of respect for what all of us do on this house, and I attempt to earn it day by day, and I feel that is simply my mentality.
“I do not ponder a variety of issues. I am appreciative of issues day by day, and I attempt to work with urgency day by day, and I do not know that that has modified. It most likely hasn’t from my perspective. I am at all times on go.”
That “go” mentality and his expertise additionally leads him to imagine he is nonetheless the fitting individual to steer the Steelers, regardless of not having gained a playoff sport since 2016.
“Fifty-one years of life,” he mentioned, explaining why he is the person for the job. “I discussed that — I feel on this setting earlier — I am not missing confidence in my skill to do the job, whereas on the similar time there’s frustration as a result of I would like that confetti for this group.
“And so no matter we received to do to do it, no matter modifications should be made, I am open to it.”
Though he acknowledged that there’s significance to the extension this time round due to the safety it might present to candidates for the vacant offensive coordinator place, Tomlin downplayed the urgency and significance of the timing to get it finished.
“That is a part of it,” Tomlin mentioned. “Fielding much less questions from you guys relating to these issues is a part of it, however that is most likely the one stage of significance for me, to be fairly sincere with you; safety is cool, but it surely’s not a high precedence for me.
“I’ve seen rather a lot. I am not job-scared, but it surely does present much less questions and issues of that nature.”
Tomlin mentioned Thursday that he anticipates making an out of doors rent at offensive coordinator, which means that Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan, who break up the coordinator duties after the in-season firing of Matt Canada, will not reprise these roles subsequent season.
“I would like us to be versatile and dynamic,” Tomlin mentioned, describing what he is in search of in an offensive coordinator. “Clearly we received to attain extra factors. I would like to have the ability to preserve defenses off-balance. I need to make the most of all of the expertise that now we have at our disposal. I am enthusiastic about this course of and the expertise pool on the market.”
Though Tomlin plans to go exterior the group for an offensive coordinator, he mentioned the beginning quarterback for the 2024 season is already in-house. He dedicated to Kenny Pickett resuming his position because the starter however added that Pickett could have competitors.
“There’s at all times competitors on this factor,” Tomlin mentioned. “We do not anoint anybody, man. I am appreciative of his efforts and the place he’s and enthusiastic about persevering with to work with him, however definitely he shall be challenged from a contest perspective shifting ahead. Competitors brings one of the best out in all of us.”
Quarterback Mason Rudolph, who turned in constant and strong performances in 4 begins to finish the season, is ready to be a free agent, however Tomlin expressed a want to carry him again.
“I can not underscore how spectacular it’s to be prepared — neglect efficiency man — to be able to ship, and he was,” Tomlin mentioned of Rudolph. “And that preparedness confirmed, and so definitely we’re much less speculative about his capabilities as a result of there’s proof of it, proof of it in robust circumstances.”