The Pittsburgh Steelers once again faced an early exit from the playoffs, leading some to call for a change in leadership with head coach Mike Tomlin. While Tomlin led the team to a Super Bowl victory in just his second season as head coach, playoff success has been elusive in recent years. Since the Steelers last won a playoff game in 2016, their postseason fortunes have been dismal, with six consecutive losses following their win over the Chiefs in the divisional round. This ongoing lack of success has many fans questioning whether Tomlin is the right person to lead the team forward, and whether the Steelers should consider making a change at the top.
Amid the growing discontent, cornerback Donte Jackson, who joined the Steelers in the previous offseason after spending six years with the Carolina Panthers, issued a cautionary message to fans who are calling for Tomlin’s job. During an appearance on The Christian Kuntz Podcast, Jackson advised Steelers supporters to “be careful what [they] wish for,” drawing on his experience in Carolina, where he witnessed firsthand the turmoil of firing head coaches midseason.
In his six seasons with the Panthers, Jackson saw three coaches fired during the course of the year, which he described as “crazy.” He also noted that many players never experience that level of instability, let alone multiple coaching changes within the same season. His message was clear: while Tomlin’s tenure in Pittsburgh has its flaws, the instability of constantly changing coaches could make matters worse for the team.
Jackson’s time with the Panthers has given him a deep appreciation for what Tomlin has accomplished in Pittsburgh. Despite the Steelers’ struggles in recent playoff seasons, Tomlin has consistently kept the team competitive and contending for postseason berths. Jackson seems to be reminding fans that although the Steelers have failed to make a deep playoff run in recent years, they are still a franchise that regularly finds itself in playoff contention—a feat that should not be taken for granted. Replacing Tomlin might seem like a quick fix, but Jackson warns that the grass might not be greener elsewhere.
The situation is complicated. On the one hand, Jackson is right to point out that finding a coach who can replicate Tomlin’s consistent success could prove to be a difficult task. After all, Tomlin has kept the Steelers competitive year after year, even in seasons when the team seemed to be lacking the talent to contend for a Super Bowl. But on the other hand, the ultimate goal for any NFL team is to win championships, and it has been over a decade since the Steelers last made a Super Bowl appearance. Given the team’s current trajectory, it’s understandable why some fans are growing impatient with the lack of postseason success.
Ultimately, the pressure is mounting for Tomlin to deliver another deep playoff run. Jackson’s comments serve as a reminder of the potential risks of making a change, but they also underscore the reality that, in the NFL, success is measured by championships. The Steelers may find themselves at a crossroads in the coming years, as the organization evaluates whether Tomlin’s leadership can once again propel them into the ranks of Super Bowl contenders—or if it’s time to look for a new direction. As Jackson aptly puts it, the Steelers may not find a coach who can achieve the same level of sustained success as Tomlin, but eventually, the team will need to show signs of progress, or it may be time to part ways and seek fresh leadership.
