MIKE TOMLIN WALKS. STEELERS ERA OFFICIALLY OVER.

Mike Tomlin walked away Tuesday. Nineteen seasons. 193 wins. Zero losing records. By every metric that matters to corporate America, he was untouchable. But Pittsburgh doesn't care about metrics—it cares about Super Bowls, and the Steelers haven't won one since 2008. A 30-6 playoff obliteration by the Texans was the final statement. Tomlin's brand of "stability" had become institutional paralysis. Here's what gets lost in the hagiography: never having a losing season sounds incredible until you realize it also means never bottoming out, never rebuilding, never actually changing. The Steelers drafted poorly for years. They cycled through QBs like they were practice squad players. They built a team designed to be perpetually mediocre—competitive enough to avoid the draft lottery, broken enough to never contend. That's not stability. That's purgatory with good vibes. Now Pittsburgh has to actually think. They need a QB. They need a real offensive identity. They need someone who understands that in 2026, coaching is about innovation, not routine. Tomlin was the last of a dying breed—the "good football guy" who could win 9 games on reputation alone. The next coach has to actually earn it. The Steelers organization just lost its training wheels. Time to see if they can actually ride.