PITTSBURGH — Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that he’s not worried about rumors that he is the top choice to replace Jay Gruden as the next head coach of the Washington Redskins.
Gruden was fired on Monday and several national reports suggested that Tomlin is on a short list of coaches sought after by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.
Tomlin dismissed the question without specifically denying that he had interest in the job, instead saying that he is focused on the Steelers and their current task at hand, not his future.
“I’m not worried about that, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin said.
“I’m the head coach of a 1-4 football team that’s going on the road to play a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback with my third quarterback. Do you think I’m worried about anything this week other than that?”
There would be significant barriers to such a move, regardless of Tomlin’s level of interest. He’s under contract through at least 2021 on an extension signed this summer with the Steelers. That contract also carries an option for the 2022 season.
Coaches under contract have been traded in the past, some of them for multiple high-round draft picks. Such a transaction would almost have to take place in the offseason.
The Steelers already traded their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The 0-5 Redskins could have one of the top selections next spring.
Tomlin has 14/1 odds of being the next Redskins coach — a roughly 6.7% chance. The current betting favorite is Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.