A trade for Mike Tomlin? Fox's Jay Glazer tells one team to 'swing away'

Despite what is currently a six-year drought without a playoff win, the Steelers are highly unlikely to fire head coach Mike Tomlin after this season.

But would they consider trading him at the nadir of his run in Pittsburgh? Presumably, Tomlin could still hold significant cachet with other franchises, starving for a coach who has his resume.

The topic came up from a fan on social media while Fox NFL insider Jay Glazer was on the “NFL on Fox” podcast with Dave Helman this week. Glazer is known to have a close relationship with Tomlin. And he encouraged at least one team to inquire with the Steelers about Tomlin’s availability.

Jay Glazer addresses the Mike Tomlin trade rumors for the first time. pic.twitter.com/MwmF38bMzD

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) December 12, 2023

“Hey, Washington, he’s from Virginia,” Glazer said. “I’m at least giving it a shot. I’m trying for it. If they decide to move away from Ron Rivera, you’ve got to swing away for a guy like that. If he’s on the hot seat, swing away … Amongst his peers, (Tomlin) is ‘the guy.’”

But Glazer said teams beyond the Commanders should inquire.

“If Mike Tomlin was available, there would be teams lining up. Even if he was not available yet, teams should be calling, trying to trade for Mike Tomlin,” Glazer said.

“If Mike Tomlin was available, there would be teams probably willing to get rid of their own head coach to bring in a Mike Tomlin. When you talk to other head coaches in this league, he is the guy. He is the grandpapa. He is the guy they all look up to. He has done an incredible job over the years. To never have a losing season? It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

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Other notable coaches who have been part of trades include Herm Edwards, Bill Belichick, Bruce Arians, Mike Holmgren, Jon Gruden, Don Shula and Bill Parcells.

In January, “retired” head coach Sean Payton agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos to accept their coaching vacancy. In order to release Payton from his contract with the Saints, the Broncos gave up a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick in exchange for Payton and a 2024 third-round pick.

Belichick (New England), Gruden (Tampa Bay), Arians (Tampa Bay) and Shula (Miami) went on to win Super Bowls with their new organizations. Belichick, Gruden, Shula and Parcells also had some sort of first-round compensation attached to their deals.

Given how highly regarded Tomlin is and how no one outside of Pittsburgh seems to care about — or even know about — the fact that he has failed to win a playoff game in 10 of the last 12 seasons, I bet Tomlin would command even more than what Payton got.

Imagine how much compensation former Steelers minority owner David Tepper would give in return for Tomlin if Tomlin would be willing to coach in Carolina.

Obviously, Tomlin would have to be amenable to the trade, and the team would also have to pony up a massive coaching contract along with whatever players and picks would be sent back in return. But if he feels as if he is now banging his head against a wall here in Pittsburgh, given how much of a struggle it has been to win in the postseason since Ben Roethlisberger blew out his elbow in 2019, perhaps it’s something he’d consider.

I doubt it. But… maybe.

From Art Rooney II’s perspective, he should listen to those offers. I would.

My guess is, though, any conversation that involves a Tomlin trade will be a nonstarter.