1-Man’s Opinion on Sports-Wednesday “NFL HOUSECLEANING CONTINUES”
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“NFL-TEAMS IN TURMOIL”
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What happened in Pittsburgh is different than what happened in Baltimore, but both are stunning for different reasons.
They are different from the demise of head coaches everywhere else, stretching from Cleveland thru New York, to Miami, into Arizona and other places. What a frantic off the field first week of the off season.
Mike Tomlin exits after 19-winning seasons in Pittsburgh-never a losing season with the Steelers, but having gone 9-years in a row without a playoff win, despite a Super Bowl win years ago..
John Harbaugh exited Baltimore after 18-superb seasons including a win in the Super Bowl.
Changes are surely coming, or should be coming.
In Pittsburgh, they need an organizational shift in philosophy: how they get players, the top type of players they get, and the style of offense they run. The Steelers are neanderthal in their approach to offense. There is little athleticism, little explosiveness to what they do. And they have yet to find a replacement for the long retired Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.
Felt bad that Tomlin was abused by the fans at home the final 3-games of the season. A man with a (193-114-2) record, a Super Bowl ring and 7-AFC North titles did not deserve that.
Harbaugh exited with (194-wins) nearly identical stats to Tomlin, but more defiant in how a team should be built, coached and led. His inflexibility on changing his staff led to a change in head coach. The cupboard is hardly bare there, but growing Lamar Jackson and that wide receiver group is a must.
In Philadelphia, Nick Sirianni has his hands full with distractions on a roster full of personalities, most notably the volatile but dynamic AJ Brown. They need an identity on offense, for what they showed in 2025 was a shell in what they were in 2024. They need a change in maturity too.
In the Chargers case, square pegs don’t fit round holes, and the Greg Roman-Mike Devlin firings (Off Coord-OL) had to take place. They need help upfront and at running back. There is a real fear Justin Herbert will wind up like Andrew Luck, battered into early retirement. Jim Harbaugh needs to bring in proven assistants who can fit their scheme around the talent they inherit.
What a unique off season this shapes up to be.
Take a look at the interview list of quality coaches out there…Harbaugh-Tomlin-Stefanski…offensive smart guys like Mike McDaniel…veteran coaches like Mike McCarthy…to veteran guys who have rebuilt reputations, Raheem Morris, Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, to hotshot coordinators like Jess Minter to Klint Kubiak.
Of course we should not forget there are some franchises with bad ownership history, who never seem to get it right in Arizona, in New York, in Cleveland, and the Black Hole history that is the Raiders.
But when we see what Mike Vrabel’s experience brought to New England, what Ben Johnson’s creative juice meant to Chicago, you can fix it quickly.
What a cross section of regarded-respected coaches, and now 9-NFL jobs waiting to be filled. The hirings will come fast and furious.
But I would never have thought two of the modern day icons would be out of jobs suddenly. Bet Tomlin-Harbaugh-Pete Carroll did not believe it would end this way either.
But like an old coach Jerry Glanville said once upon a time. NFL…’Not For Long’ if you don’t win in this league. Never more so than now.
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