In the aftermath of Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans and media all over have started discussing his legacy. For the most part, fans and media alike both recognize his overall success and that it was time for his 19-year tenure to come to an end.
It’s possible Tomlin, 53, coaches again, although based on reports, that’s at least one year away as he spends a year away from the sideline, either serving as analyst on TV or just enjoying more time with family. But for some, he doesn’t need to coach again in order to earn eventual enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
However, a person who knows Tomlin very well doesn’t share that opinion. Most of Tomlin’s former players tend to stick up for him when faced with questions about his legacy, but not James Harrison.
James Harrison doesn’t feel Tomlin deserves the Hall of Fame
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who played for Tomlin throughout most of his 17-year career and spent parts of 14 of those seasons in Pittsburgh, isn’t buying his old coach as worthy of being enshrined in the place most around the game refer to as “Football Heaven” in Canton, Ohio.
When asked if Tomlin is a Hall of Famer by his co-host and fellow former Steeler Joe Haden on their “Deebo and Joe” podcast, Harrison gave an emphatic “no” response and then used a popular reason often cited by Tomlin critics.
“He hasn’t made disciples,” said Harrison, arguing that Tomlin doesn’t have a coaching tree. No Tomlin assistant left the Steelers and enjoyed success as a head coach elsewhere.
