As speculation mounts regarding whether it’s time for the Steelers and 19-year coach Mike Tomlin to go their separate way, there’s another question that the team must answer, sooner than later.

Via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, Tomlin’s contract has a 2027 option year, which the Steelers must exercise on or before March 1, 2026 .

That’s new. That’s relevant. But Schefter also says “nobody in the Steelers’ organization nor around the NFL expects Pittsburgh to fire Tomlin.”

If the Steelers aren’t going to fire Tomlin after 2025, it’s hard to imagine the Steelers not exercising the 2026 option. Even if there are doubts but not enough to fire him, why make him a lame duck next season?

The potential buyout for 2027 is immaterial. If the Steelers would pick up the option and fire Tomlin aft

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