(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
For some inexplicable reason discussion started last week with the possibility of USC and LSU being interested in Mike Tomlin as a head coach, even though Tomlin's under contract with the Steelers through the 2024 season. The rumor all started with former Bills general manager Doug Whaley on 93.7 The Fan, who said Tomlin could enhance his legacy by winning a National Championship, along with already being a Super Bowl-winning head coach.
The talk escalated even more with former Steelers safety and LSU product, Ryan Clark, who raved about the idea of Tomlin coaching at LSU. And then yesterday, former star quarterback at USC, Carson Palmer, said Tomlin's a "wild card" for the USC head coaching job. It's just pure speculation and nonsense, to be honest.
This has happened before to Tomlin, as in October of 2019 there were rumors that Dan Snyder was targeting Tomlin to be the next head coach of the Washington Football Team. I mean, I get it, a lot of people want Tomlin as their head coach. He's a great coach and motivator. But, he's not going anywhere.
Tomlin was asked about the rumors of him coaching at the college level at the end of his weekly press conference today, and he shut down the notion real quick.
“I don’t have time for that speculation,” Tomlin said. “That’s a joke to me. I’ve got one of the best jobs in all of professional sport, why would I have any interest in coaching college football? That’ll be the last time I address it. And not only today, but moving forward. Never say never, but never.”
Tomlin then wondered why no one is asking Sean Payton or Andy Reid about their interest in leaving the NFL for the USC and LSU job and then stormed out of the press conference. Which is really rare for Tomlin to do, but I can understand his frustration. Tomlin's in his 15th season as the Steelers' head coach, why would he want to step down a level and deal with recruiting high school kids?
Tomlin has made a ton of money in his career at the NFL level. Money is not an issue for him. That's why it's silly that people are saying that he could be set up for life if USC or LSU offers him a contract that he can't refuse.
As Tomlin also mentioned in his press conference today. “There’s not a booster with a big enough blank check.”
Commentaires