Mike Tomlin addresses abrupt press conference exit, contract status with Steelers
Three days after his abrupt exit from a postgame press conference, Mike Tomlin addressed the elephant in the room.
The Pittsburgh Steelers coach walked off the podium following Monday’s playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills as a reporter asked about his contract status.
“In a little better mood today,” Tomlin, 51, said with a smile at the top of Thursday’s press conference. “Man, anybody got any contract questions?”
He continued, “I certainly could have handled that situation better than I did, but I’ll also say this: I just believe there’s a time and place for everything, and postgame press conferences are probably not the place to address contract issues.”
Tomlin, who is entering the final year of his contract, went on to say Thursday that he expects to be back with the Steelers.
“I’d imagine those contract things are gonna run their course,” said Tomlin, who won a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh after the 2008 season.
Tomlin, who has never finished with a losing record in his 17 years as Pittsburgh’s head coach, led the Steelers to the playoffs at 10-7 this season, despite deploying three different quarterbacks. Tomlin stuck with third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph down the stretch, even as starter Kenny Pickett returned from an ankle injury.
Pickett is set to return but will face competition for the quarterback job, Tomlin said. Rudolph is an impending free agent.
