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Gerry Dulac's Steelers chat: 01.14.26
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Gerry Dulac
10:35
Ok kids, let's get our chat started while I wait for Art Rooney II's press conference....
Stairway to seventh seed
10:36
Gerry: thanks for helping us process a surreal 16 hour period from the time Houston had just a 7-6 lead and faced a 3rd and 15 from about their own 20 late in the third to hearing of Tomlin's decision 23-0 and about 16 hours later.  I commend Mike Tomlin for stepping away gracefully.  I am usually early in the queue so I'll ask the obvious, who are your top candidates?
Gerry Dulac
10:38
I don't have any yet and I don't play the guessing game. The only candidates I will advance are the ones they are seriously considering, not the ones people THINK or would like to see. I will say this, if history is any indication, the Steelers will hire a young, defensive-minded coach, just like Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. And I would also think there is zero chance they will hire a former head coach. That's the equivalent of bringing in another veteran QB. They will want to start fresh.
Tom
10:46
The Steelers have a history of long tenured coaches, but given the poor state of the team the new coach will likely have fans calling for his end after a few years of losing. In that sense, do you hire a young coach for a potential "all or none" turnaround or an experienced placeholder coach until a qb is established?
Gerry Dulac
10:47
I would not call being in the playoffs five of the past six years "the poor state of the team. And I think their history of hiring coaches and their longevity -- 23 years, 15 years, 19 years -- would suggest there will not be a brief stay this time either.
Wild Bill
10:48
Obviously the Rooney's and Tomlin had a close relationship. Instead of him just quiting don't you think there could have been a way to move Tomlin to another team (with his input) for some compensation? I think it is pretty low of Tomlin to refuse a trade but then just up and quit on his team anyways.
Gerry Dulac
10:48
That can still happen. And nothing about what Tomlin did was "pretty low."
Bill in LA
10:49
Tomlin's resignation yesterday tells me his last two seasons of employing Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers were really all about Tomlin trying to get a playoff win for his legacy, so he could quit with a playoff win. He was not trying to develop the Steelers team to win a Super Bowl like before. So to me Tomlin's last two years were a great disservice to Steelers fans and a huge stain on Tomlin's legacy. Truth?
Gerry Dulac
10:51
Disagree. Yes, they brought in those QBs with the idea of trying to win a playoff game and advance in the postseason. I don't believe for a second it was for his legacy, nor did he do a disservice to the fans. In fact, he did the opposite.
Stairway to seventh seed
10:52
Gerry: the Steelers were certainly not going to signal to Metcalf while the season was going on that they would void his guarantees, but what is the deadline for doing so?  His drop was just one play in a beat down, but it's not like it was his first drop.  His contract just looks awful right now and if a blue haired way out of it is still an option, why not take it?
Gerry Dulac
10:52
I don't think that's a possibility, even though you think it's an option. But I hear ya. I was never a big fan of the deal -- not him but the amount of money they gave him.
Wild Bill
10:53
I just can't understand Tomlin's mindset of winning games, especially playoff games. He clearly went in with the conservative attitude of two tough defenses slogging it out. He was thinking of a 16-9 victory, but these other teams are clearly looking to win 30-6. How did so many years of getting blown out not make him change his philosphy?
Gerry Dulac
10:54
Did you see the first couple series? Throwing downfield right off the bat, trying to be aggressive and test the Texans defense. But the waiy it was turning out proved to be otherwise. He wasn't playing conservative. They were playing desperate because that Houston defense was suffocating
Bill in LA
10:54
Gerry, just to say thank you for all the chats this season. You were the best thing about the Steeler's season once again! Why are you so cool?
Gerry Dulac
10:55
My man! Just for that, I'm sending you a signed Kenny Pickett jersey
Bill in LA
10:55
Care to make a prediction on what type of coach you think Art Rooney will go for? Defensive? Offensive? Retread? Young or old?
Gerry Dulac
10:55
Absolutely no retreads. No former NFL head coach. Defensive-minded and young, just like the previous three
IUPDave
10:56
Good morning Gerry.  Interesting times.  I know if Tomlin takes an NFL job this year, there would be some form of compensation to the Steelers.  But with the option year of 2027, did the Steelers have to accept the option before the resignation to also include 2027 for potential compensation?
Gerry Dulac
10:56
I don't believe so Dave. They own his rights for two years I was told
Stairway to seventh seed
10:57
Gerry: The Steelers have $91 million of average annual value contracts tied up to Ramsey, Metcalf, and Watt.  A below average safety, a maybe top 50 WR, and a rapidly declining former great who has fewer sacks in the last 2 years than in the previous year alone.  Some in the media think that just because they still field a team under the cap, this is ok, but isn't that just a terrible use of about a third of the cap? If more than Tomlin is responsible for this, shouldn't those people be shown the door as well?
Gerry Dulac
10:57
You mean the same people who helped them be in the postseason five of the past six years? Start naming the teams who have done that. I
10:58
I'll hang up and listen
CT ART
10:58
76 was pushed around by Hunter and looked like a below average tackle. 77 has been inconsistent and 60 has played well in a limited role. Is OT a sneaky priority?
Gerry Dulac
10:58
Nope. They have bigger issues than that
Dave Moody
10:59
First of all, let me say "thank you," to you, Ed, Brian, Ron, Chris, Mike Fabius(I know, the photographer??)Paul, and Ray for being mine, and THOUSANDS of others "go to" for all things Steelers.  Your insights, reporting, and perspective have been on point, stellar, and entertaining.
Gerry Dulac
10:59
I'll let them know. Dunka
Tom
11:00
Like it or not, Tomlin sort of got what most people don't want to hear...winning a Super Bowl is highly unlikely. Was he in the right to just play conservative football year in a year out, end with a winning record and end up without a SB appearance like even the best teams?
Gerry Dulac
11:01
Like every head coach, he is 120 percent within his right to play the way he believes is the best way to win, not what others think.
Bob Abuoy
11:01
Gerry do you think it’s true Art was totally blindsided by Tomlin stepping down? In other words he thought all was well with his head coach after another blowout in the first round and no discussions were needed regarding his future?
Gerry Dulac
11:02
And just who said he was? Somebody who doesn't know or ever would??
RAM
11:02
Mornin’ Gerry! I’d like to hear your thoughts on the type of HC the Steelers may consider. History suggests a younger guy but offensive or defensive minded?
Gerry Dulac
11:03
Yes, younger for sure. And I would imagine defensive-minded, just like the past three. That approach has worked pretty well, I'd say.
Josh
11:04
Good morning Gerry! Lots of national media speculation that Tomlin did not have a lot to do with roster construction. Just confirming that Tomlin had almost as much as or more say than Khan, Colbert, Weidl, etc when it came to each season’s roster?
Gerry Dulac
11:04
He had everything to do with roster construction. I've told you, stop believing what you hear from those guys who are NEVER around the team
Lloyd Voss
11:05
At some point they’re going to acquire their long term QB. With that in mind do you think Rooney will break with precedent and hire a coach with a focus on offense? Someone from the McVay/Shanahan tree to be specific.
Gerry Dulac
11:05
Possibly
Turk in MD
11:05
Thanks for the chats Gerry.  Will the team stick to its formula of a young defensive coordinator?  Would they go with a young offensive mind?
Gerry Dulac
11:05
See earlier answers
Josh
11:05
How blindsided was the team and the owners yesterday with the news? We heard rumblings through insiders but we’ve heard rumblings for years and nothing ever came to fruition.
Gerry Dulac
11:06
I would say the vast majority of the team, if not all of them, were totally surprised and shocked
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