Private Information Leaked By Mike Tomlin's Team Could Be Setting Up Separation From Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a tumultuous season in 2025. The year has been full of ups and downs that once saw the Steelers in complete control of the AFC North. Now, the team is in a neck-and-neck battle with the Baltimore Ravens for who will come out on top of the division and clinch a spot in the postseason. The emotional rollercoaster that the season has been has caused the fan base to be extremely outspoken when it comes to the coaching staff, particularly Head Coach Mike Tomlin and his future with the franchise, as well as his job security moving forward.

Things got rough for Tomlin and the Steelers after the team's embarrassing loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13. The team got ran all over and couldn't get anything going on the offensive side of the ball, and fans began chanting for Tomlin to be fired from the stands. The coach is under contract through the 2027 season, but a nugget about his contract was reported on during that week about how the organization has an option on the final year of his deal. 

Insider Gerry Dulac recently spoke about that report during an appearance on 102.5 WDVE, stating that he believes Tomlin's team was leaking that information.

"First of all, that's coming from Mike Tomlin's agent because it's not coming from the Steelers because they don't discuss anything that's going to happen after the season, during the season," Dulac explained. "So from that end, I know where that's coming from. The stuff about the option, I mean, I'm not going to sit here and dispute it because I know this, a couple contract extensions ago, they gave Mike Tomlin, it was a one-year extension with a one-year option. And ever since then, I just assumed, and maybe even before that, there was always an option clause in his contract."

Tomlin's option in his contract is for the 2027 season, and the organization has to decide whether or not to pick that option up by March 1st during the 2026 offseason. Details of coach's contracts are not reported when they are signed, so this was relatively unknown until the report came out from Adam Schefter, and Dulac speculates that the insider got that information from Tomlin's agent.

This is a common game that is played by agents and representatives of various players and coaches. Agents will leak information to the national media to benefit their client. Dulac also made a good point that the organization would not have leaked this information, as the Steelers don't delve into any contractual business during the season.

The important thing to ponder is why this information about Tomlin's contract was leaked. His team may have seen the writing on the wall about a potential split with the franchise. Having just one year remaining on his contract makes him much more fireable for the organization as the financial burden of that decision would be less than firing a coach with two years left on his deal. This information could have been leaked so that teams with potential coaching vacancies know to keep Tomlin in mind as he could become available, however the coach now has his team back on the right path towards a playoff berth.

Steelers' Mike Tomlin Will Likely Be Back In 2026

After the loss to Buffalo, it was completely fathomable to think that Tomlin could be fired after the 2025 season, but he did what he always does and got his team back on the right track. Pittsburgh is now in complete control of its season as it is in first place in the AFC North. If Pittsburgh can find a way to capture the AFC North crown and fight its way into the postseason, Tomlin should be back in Pittsburgh in 2026, and his option for the 2027 season may be picked up. 

The Steelers might even be in good shape to get their first postseason win in nearly a decade with the way the Wild Card is shaping up.

What do you think about Tomlin's team possibly leaking his contract information? Let us know in the comments below!

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