Following his team’s defeat in the AFC Wild Card Playoffs earlier this month, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II revealed a great deal about his mentality.
After reports that longtime head coach Mike Tomlin and Rooney would get divorced in the offseason, Rooney made it very clear that he still believes in their relationship.
So, you’re still happy about Mike. Rooney stated, via ESPN, “Obviously, if I didn’t, [we] would make a change, but if we didn’t think Mike could lead us to a championship, he wouldn’t be here, and that’s why he is here.”
Rooney expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of success in the NFL playoffs recently in the same breath. It is indicative of the work Tomlin has done and the fact that Pittsburgh has spent the better part of the last ten years not being considered a serious Super Bowl candidate.
Regarding Tomlin, Rooney remarked, “There’s a resolve there and a determination there.” As I believe I have mentioned previously, those of us who have been here for a long time are eager to move forward and are growing a little impatient. We also need to see the kind of progress that we are all hoping for. As strongly as everybody else in the building, Mike holds that belief.
Since losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game in 2016, Pittsburgh has not triumphed in a postseason game. The team’s postseason record has been 0–4 since then. That is unacceptable to Tomlin or Rooney.
Leave a Reply