The Pittsburgh Steelers must decide by March 1 whether to exercise a team option on head coach Mike Tomlin's contract for the 2027 season. This comes amid reports that the team has no plans to fire him after the current season, but declining the option could lead to a lame-duck year in 2026. The situation raises questions about the franchise's future direction, especially with significant draft capital available.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are navigating a key contractual decision regarding head coach Mike Tomlin. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Tomlin's three-year extension, signed on June 10, 2024, and worth roughly $50 million, includes a team option for 2027 that must be decided by March 1. After this season, the contract will have two years remaining: 2026 and the optional 2027 year.
Schefter reported that the Steelers do not intend to fire Tomlin following what has been a disappointing 6-6 campaign. However, the option's timing creates challenges. "If the Steelers decline to pick up Tomlin’s option, they would be allowing their head coach to enter the final year of his contract next season, which teams typically prefer not to do," Schefter wrote. "And if neither side has any commitment to the other beyond 2026, it would bring into play a whole host of options."
This decision coincides with the team's preparations for a pivotal 2026 draft, where they hold a projected 12 selections, including five in the top 100. The Steelers have stockpiled draft capital by not signing many compensatory free agents, allowing their own to walk, and trading wide receiver George Pickens to the Cowboys. A lame-duck season for Tomlin could disrupt alignment on critical moves, such as drafting a franchise quarterback.
Analyst Ross McCorkle suggests the option could prompt a mutual split soon after the season ends in early January, potentially via trade, step down, or negotiated exit. The Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens this weekend, with a chance to contend for the AFC North title, but the contract news adds to the distractions.