“You need to continually be a guy on the rise”

As minicamp wrapped up on the South Side of Pittsburgh, head coach Mike Tomlin delivered a message to his players, captured on video by the Steelers media team.

https://twitter.com/steelers/status/1669491979531751424?s=20

Tomlin’s speech was centered around what he called “Reasonable Expectations”. Tomlin expects all of the players to get better, the same as every coach, but he asked his men to measure themselves against their previous abilities. While this may seem like an ordinary message from a head coach, I believe the culture that Tomlin has built, along with the respect he has earned throughout the league, are both exemplified in this short speech.

The story of Mike Tomlin’s rise to the Steelers head coaching job is really fascinating. He coached at the college and NFL level as a position coach, and spent one season as defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. Then, at just age 34, the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the NFL’s most storied franchises hired him to lead the team.

Tomlin’s wizardry with his words was on full display from the opening press conference. A line that embodies his first sixteen seasons as head coach sticks out:

“We intend to make no bold predictions about what we’re going to do,” Tomlin said, “but what we are going to do is have a first class, blue collar work ethic in how we approach our business.”

Every day since January 27, 2007, Tomlin has honored his initial words as well as the Hall of Fame coaches that came before him. It has resulted in a Super Bowl ring, and a winning season each year. Now, as he embarks on season number seventeen, he intends to instill the same values listed on his first day into each player he coaches, young and old.

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The dreariness of June has forced NFL shows and podcasts to analyze football in shorts, and discuss potential hold-out situations. When this video hit social media, the NFL commentators and former players saw it as an opportunity to give praise to the Steelers head coach. A clip from Good Morning Football is the best example:

In a message to Steelers players HC Mike Tomlin says "You need to continue to be a guy on the rise…"

The crew comments on holding NFL veterans accountable pic.twitter.com/sgntjaS07T

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) June 16, 2023

Amidst a myriad of compliments to Tomlin’s pedigree and ability to lead his locker room, NFL Network analyst Kyle Brandt asked former DB Jason McCourty how difficult it is for a head coach to “punctuate the dreariness” in long offseason meetings. He responded with:

“Some don’t, that’s why you’re not always a head coach for a long time. There are only some that you can sit there for 30-40 minutes, up to an hour and you are actually paying attention.”

There’s that respect.

Tomlin’s recent lack of playoff success has made it easy to criticize him, but it would be wise to remember how great and respected the Steelers head coach is. And, for the record, Tomlin understands the criticism too.

“The things that made you viable in the past aren’t going to be the things that make you viable moving forward.”