Mike Tomlin abruptly leaves press conference when asked about contract
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest one-and-done playoff appearance is raising questions about Mike Tomlin’s future.
The NFL’s longest tenured coach was in no mood to talk about it Monday night.
Tomlin walked off the podium at his postgame news conference following a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills when a reporter began with, “Mike, you have a year left on your contract.”
The abrupt exit only heightened speculation about what’s next for Tomlin and the Steelers. He’s been in charge there for 17 seasons, making him the NFL’s longest tenured head coach after Bill Belichick
parted with New England last week. He’s never had a losing season — an NFL record run — but this year was close.
The Steelers were unable to overcome early mistakes and the absence of star pass rusher T.J. Watt against Buffalo, and now the franchise has gone seven years since last winning a playoff game.
The franchise played in its NFL-leading 63rd playoff game since 1970 and is accustomed to contending for Super Bowl championships. But the Steelers (10-8) finished one-anddone for a fourth consecutive postseason appearance.
The team went through turmoil this season unprecedented during Tomlin’s reign, including the firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada and several key injuries, including to starting quarterback Kenny Pickett and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Pittsburgh responded from a three-game skid to win three in a row and sneak into the playoffs. But having finished a season behind AFC North rivals in Baltimore and Cleveland, and conference rivals such as Buffalo, the Steelers enter an offseason of uncertainty.
Mason Rudolph’s efforts helped the Steelers win their final three regularseason games and claim the seventh seed in the AFC playoffs. But the backup quarterback struggled in his first postseason appearance in an outing during which the wintry elements hardly played a factor.
Rudolph, who didn’t turn the ball over in the regular season, was intercepted in the end zone by Kaiir Elam early in the second quarter. That led to his Bills counterpart Josh Allen scoring on a 52-yard run that put the Steelers in a 21-0 hole.
And Buffalo’s second touchdown of the first quarter came one play after Steelers receiver George Pickens fumbled in Pittsburgh territory.
“We spotted them early in the football game via the turnovers,” Tomlin said. “Can’t come into an environment like this with a playoff-caliber team and turn the ball over like that and expect to be competitive.”