SEC Coach Seeks Advice On Steelers HC Mike Tomlin's Way Of Running Things In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers are fortunate enough to have an elite head coach in the form of Mike Tomlin. As he's set to enter his 17th season with the team, expectations are high for the Steelers to bounce back in 2023. While the roster was upgraded throughout the offseason, Tomlin is another reason for those expectations. Players want to play for the Steelers head man, as he's known for being able to connect with players in a way that coaches typically don't. 

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah stopped by Latrobe over the weekend to get a peak at how the Steelers are looking. He walked away impressed and thinks Pittsburgh can win the AFC North in 2023. In an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show on Monday, Jeremiah talked about Tomlin specifically. Upon a discussion with rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr., Jeremiah found out about a Tomlinism from the weekend.

"I was talking to [Joey] Porter [Jr.]. He said [that Tomlin said], 'Today, we're gonna find out who loves football and who's comfortable being uncomfortable and that was it.' It was energetic and competitive. It was a great practice," Jeremiah said to Eisen.

Several veterans around the NFL have spoken out about their respect for Tomlin this offseason, including Leonard Fournette and Devin McCourty. Recently, former Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster talked about the similarities between Tomlin and two other coaching legends, Bill Belichick and Andy Reid. Smith-Schuster signed with the New England Patriots this offseason, which means he will have played for all three of those coaches in the past three years.

What will the Steelers record be in 2023?

Essentially, all three share a similar mindset when it comes to trying to win championships. Players aren't the only ones taking notes either. Coaches, whether it be at the professional or collegiate level, are trying to pick up on what makes guys like Tomlin so successful. According to Jeremiah, he was contacted by a head coach from one of the major universities in college football. 

"To show you what kind of respect he has, I got a text from a head coach in the SEC saying 'Can you call me?' I didn't know what he wanted, so I called him when I got back to my hotel. He goes, 'Hey, what's Tomlin doing? You said it was really competitive, how so? What was he doing during practice? What was he saying?'" Jeremiah said via The Rich Eisen Show.

Nearly two months ago, we got a glimpse inside the locker room of one of Tomlin's speeches to his players. The video went viral, and it was a testament to how he interacts with his guys. He's authentic and knows how to keep his players in line. On an annual basis, like clockwork, people seem to think that Tomlin's on the hot seat amidst struggles from the Steelers. Quite frankly, any team would be lucky to have him as their head coach.

Despite a difficult 2022 campaign, Tomlin somehow righted the ship to help the team finish with a 9-8 record. It kept his impressive track record intact, as he still has yet to have a below-.500 season as head coach of the Steelers. While the roster is improved, the AFC is a gauntlet from top to bottom. It'll make it that much more difficult for Tomlin to keep his streak alive, but if there's anyone that can do it, it's him.