Steelers Think Tank: How would Ben Roethlisberger’s contract tie into Mike Tomlin’s future?

Welcome to the BTSC Pittsburgh Steelers ‘Think Tank’. Here is where there will be a general question asked, and the answer will be hashed out in the comment section below the article. Unlike in the Friday Night Six Pack, and other articles which are banking on fan responses, this is just one topic to discuss.

Today’s think tank question revolves around Mike Tomlin’s future with the organization, and how Ben Roethlisberger’s future are intertwined.

Everyone heard this week about the rumors of the Washington Redskins supposedly courting Tomlin to become their next coach in 2020. This caused a lot of speculation regarding a potential trade to the Redskins, a la the Tampa Bay Buccaneers trading for Jon Gruden back in 2002. That was the high-stakes trade that included Tampa Bay’s 2002 and 2003 first-round draft picks, 2002 and 2004 second-round draft picks, and $8 million in cash.

I am pretty sure at this juncture if someone said the Redskins would offer the Steelers even half of the above draft pick stock for Tomlin, they would take it and not look back. But that isn’t the discussion here. The discussion is whether Ben Roethlisberger’s remaining years on his current contract will impact how the team handles Tomlin’s future with the organization.

This is in no way, shape or form a call to action to fire/trade Tomlin. No, it is just a discussion on whether you feel Roethlisberger being in the waning years of his career would have the Steelers stick with Tomlin, at least until Roethlisberger’s time in Pittsburgh is officially up.

Why would this even matter? Is it highly doubtful Roethlisberger wants to be a part of a team with a new head coach. After all, he has only had two head coaches since being drafted in 2004, and he has it pretty good right now. Tomlin takes care of Roethlisberger both physically with days off and through the media avoiding harsh criticism of his quarterback. Roethlisberger returns the favor by never throwing his head coach under the bus, not suggesting he doesn’t throw other coaches (Todd Haley) and players (Antonio Brown, James Washington, etc.) under that bus, but never Tomlin.

The two have a pretty strong working relationship, and you have to wonder if Art Rooney would keep the two together until No. 7 decides he is done.

So, with that said, what do you think of the thought the Steelers won’t do anything with Tomlin until Roethlisberger calls it quits? Let us know in the Steelers Think Tank, or as we like to call it the comment section below.