Former Steelers linebacker calls out Mike Tomlin for dysfunction
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn ImagesThe Pittsburgh Steelers are entering a new era in the post-Mike Tomlin world.
Tomlin stepped down as Steelers head coach in January following Pittsburgh's 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans I the wild card round of the NFL playoffs. He had been the head coach of the Steelers for 19 seasons, which made him the longest tenured head coach in major American sports.
Since Tomlin stepped down, several players have come out to express gratitude toward their former head coach. However there have been some who have been critical of the job he did. Most recently, former Steelers linebacker Stevenson Sylvester said Tomlin was the author of dysfunction in Pittsburgh.
When I was with the Steelers, we were 12-4 my first two seasons,"Sylvester said via Aaron Becker of Steelers Now. Then my third year, we took a dip. We let go of some veterans. It wasn't as good as the years before."
Sylvester attributes the issues to Mike Tomlin overstepping and trying to do the jobs of other coaches.
The difference was Mike Tomlin would try to do everybody else's job," Sylvester said. He would try to do the defensive coordinator's job, the linebacker coach's job, and it wouldn't leave time for those guys to do their job. That created dysfunction."
Sylvester isn't the first Steelers linebacker to take aim at Tomlin, as James Harrison has spent months being critical of his former head coach on his podcast with Joe Haden Deebo and Joe.
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