PITTSBURGH — During his season-ending press conference on Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was rather direct when asked about any team who may inquire about his availability in a potential trade.
“I have no message. Save your time,” Tomlin said.
Despite calls for Tomlin’s job from the majority of Steelers Nation, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on Sunday morning that the Steelers have no interest in moving on from Tomlin, and Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Sunday afternoon that the team does not plan to do so.
While breaking down the Steelers’ Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, Schefter reiterated that the Steelers have fielded at least one trade call from a team that was interested in trading for Tomlin, but that team was told that Tomlin has a no-trade clause and that the Steelers have no interest in moving on from Tomlin at this time.
The New England Patriots agreed to terms with Mike Vrabel to be their next head coach on Sunday. New England was the first team to fill their head coach vacancy in this year’s head coach carousel. The New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys are still searching for their next head coach.
The Cowboys were just added to the list, as Mike McCarthy and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had been in discussions regarding a new contract, but were unable to reach an agreement on a deal to keep him in Dallas. McCarthy’s contract expires on Tuesday.
Former NFL quarterback and current analyst at FS1 Chase Daniel thinks Tomlin would be a perfect fit in Dallas. Out of the six teams looking for a new head coach, it seems like Dallas and Chicago would be the best fits for Tomlin. Of course, it doesn’t seem like Tomlin is going anywhere, however.
“If I’m Jerry Jones … why not make a run at Mike Tomlin? Why not try to trade for him? If he doesn’t trade for him, Tomlin (should) say, ‘Hey, I need a fresh start.’ I just think the message in Dallas and what he can do with the Dallas Cowboys roster of players, building it there, I think it would be a fascinating move,” Daniel said on FS1’s The Facility. “I implore Jerry Jones to go and do that, because I know what Mike Tomlin is. Without a doubt, in my opinion, it makes the most sense in the world for Tomlin, if he were to leave, to then go to the Dallas Cowboys. Another big brand.”
If Jerry Jones is indeed interested, Tomlin made it clear to not even bother.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.