After an embarrassing 30-6 loss against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round on Monday, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s future might be in danger. The ‘Fire Tomlin’ crowd is agitated, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes that Tomlin’s exit is a possibility. But the coach himself isn’t ready to discuss what’s next.

“I’m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight,” said Mike Tomlin during the post-game press conference. “I’m more in the mindset of what transpired in the stadium, and certainly what we did and didn’t do. Not a big picture mentality as I sit here tonight.”

This year ended in yet another January disappointment, just like the past two seasons. But this one wasn’t just about losing. It was about how thoroughly the Steelers were beaten. Pittsburgh managed only 175 total yards, its fewest in a playoff game since December 21, 1947. On the other hand, Houston piled up 408. The 233-yard gap marked the worst postseason yardage differential in franchise history.

The Steelers still haven’t won a playoff game since 2016.

During the broadcast, ESPN flashed a graphic showing Tomlin sitting one loss shy of the all-time record for consecutive playoff defeats, previously held by Marvin Lewis. With this one, Tomlin now shares it. He has lost seven straight playoff games.

It’s tragic. This is a city wired for higher standards. Tomlin just completed his 19th straight winning season since taking over in 2007. He has won eight AFC North titles, taken the team to the playoffs 13 times, won Super Bowl XLIII after the 2008 season, and reached Super Bowl XLV two years later.

But that’s not enough in Pittsburgh. It’s all about the trophy. The Steelers haven’t advanced in the postseason since the 2016 Divisional Round. That’s the longest playoff win drought of the franchise’s Super Bowl era and currently the ninth-longest active streak in the league. They didn’t come close to ending it this year, but they couldn’t pull it off.

Everyone knows this is an organization that values continuity. The Steelers have employed just three head coaches since 1969. That stability is part of their identity, which is why the idea of firing Tomlin still sounds foreign when you say it out loud. Still, there’s a sense that the front office may be nearing its limit. The fan base already has.

Add in the rumors that Tomlin has a television offer waiting for him in 2026, and the picture gets even cloudier. And when he walked off the field without Aaron Rodgers and Cam Heyward by his side, it was hard not to feel that something deeper might be unraveling.

Mike Tomlin clears his stance on ditching Rodgers and Heyward

After the 29–24 Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions, Mike Tomlin walked off the field with Cam Heyward on one side and Aaron Rodgers on the other. It’s become a quiet ritual. It didn’t happen this time, and Tomlin explained why.

“I only walk off the field with those guys on road victories. If you’ve been paying attention, that’s what it is. Certainly, tonight didn’t fall into that category,” Tomlin said.

That tradition actually goes back years. Tomlin and Heyward decided a long time ago that they’d walk off together. Let’s call it a little pact between the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach and the Steelers’ longest-tenured player. It was their way of sharing the moment, in wins and losses. At least, that’s how it started.

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This season, they expanded the circle and brought Rodgers into it.

“Me and Mike T had talked about it, and he was like, ‘Let’s bring this old man along with us,’” Heyward said. “We wanted to give him an experience of what it’s like to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, and welcome him into that and show him that we’re with you along this ride, this journey. You don’t have to walk alone.”

Earlier in the year, the three shook hands, exchanged smiles, and walked off the MetLife Stadium turf together after Rodgers helped erase a nine-point deficit against the Jets. Tonight was different. Tomlin walked off quickly, Rodgers after him, and Heyward lingered behind, still on the field.

Maybe Tomlin was simply sticking to the rules of the tradition. Maybe there was more to it. Either way, this was a night the Steelers would rather forget. And depending on what happens next, there’s a chance we’ve already seen the last of those three walking off together.