Unpopular Opinion: It’s the media and fans that care about Tomlin‘s non-losing streak
When the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the dreaded long offseason, there are plenty of ideas to debate. As part of the triumphant trio on the Steelers Preview podcast, I’ve been known to often give a “Dave answer“ to various things as I often like to argue both sides of an issue. With this in mind, a new weekly segment has been born… Unpopular opinion.
There are plenty of arguments both for and against the Pittsburgh Steelers that might not go along with the majority of fans. Oftentimes I believe in these arguments, while other times I simply like to pose a counter argument for ones that are taking it too much to the extreme. For this reason, I’m going to offer some points about the Pittsburgh Steelers that go against the general fan narrative, or at least how I have heard things.
Next up is who is focused on the Steelers non-losing streak…
It’s the media and fans that care about Tomlin‘s non-losing streak
This week’s submission comes from Bryan Anthony Davis, and it’s really quite simple. When it comes to the Steelers non-losing streak under head coach Mike Tomlin, this story is being pushed by the media and fans when really Coach Tomlin himself couldn’t care less.
When fans want to make sarcastic comments about “you’ve gotta keep the non-losing streak alive” and things of this nature, they’re the ones fueling the story. Between that and the media using it to continually praise Coach Tomlin, it becomes a story about someone who would likely prefer the whole thing just go away.
If there are Steelers fans out there who think that Coach Tomlin actually cares about the streak at this time, they’re completely misguided. Maybe when Coach Tomlin has hung up the whistle and is done his coaching career, it might be something that he looks back on and can appreciate. But in this moment, Coach Tomlin doesn’t care one bit about what happened last season, yet alone the 17 before it.
Don’t get me wrong, the streak is quite impressive. But why is it even something that happened? It’s because Coach Tomlin has the attitude of being focused on winning the next game. It takes winning games in order to qualify for the “postseason tournament.” In order for a team to win a Super Bowl, first they have to make the playoffs. So it’s a process:
Win games.
Make the playoffs.
Win in the playoffs.
Win the championship.
Any Steelers fan who hasn’t been asleep for the last decade knows the Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. So obviously the Steelers haven’t overcome the third step. But you can’t even get to the third step without the first two. Because Coach Tomlin constantly wants to win games in order to make the postseason, it’s not a bad thing that the Steelers are having winning records every season. It’s a byproduct of the ultimate goal each season. And fans want to use this to mock their head coach? I don’t get it.
Still, this isn’t as much as the “why“ the fans bring up the topic, it’s more about how this does not mean something to Coach Tomlin. Those that think that the goal is to keep the streak alive are really just showing out out of touch they are with the Steelers trying to win the Super Bowl every season. There are no off years. There is no ‘tanking.” It’s win this year. When next year comes, it’s win that year. It’s never never accepting anything less.
The non-losing streak for Mike Tomlin is impressive. But he does not care. Fans care about it. The media cares about it. But trust me, reaching the point of the season where the Steelers secure a winning record is not on Coach Tomlin’s mind. He has bigger goals, albeit goals he has not reached in a long time. Achieving an impressive feat because he is attempting to win a championship every season should not be held against him, and to think that this lower standard of a non-losing streak is his new goal is ridiculous.
To hear the latest Unpopular Opinion podcast, check it out in the player below. Be sure to check back for this podcast every Sunday morning during the Steelers offseason.
The media are paid to talk and/or write, fans (should) have the ability to critically evaluate what the media are communicating. Consider, for example, Steven A. Smith, who has admitted his ESPN persona doesn’t always coincide with what he actually thinks.
Another week I don’t think you’ll have much pushback on your topic.
I’m more impressed with the fact that he’s only had ONE meaningless game. That’s amazing.
I will say I’ve been looking at this streak, and fans talking about it, as it’s really all there is to talk about with this team in terms of season results. I think most people know deep in their minds that this isn’t a superbowl team, and hasn’t been for years so the streak gets the headlines.
Yep.
Agreed, but there’s a significant number of Steelers fans who truly believe that all Mike is concerned with is keeping his streak alive. And they don’t even realize just how silly and foolish an accusation they’re making.
Yep, I wrote something similar on KT Smith’s post about the task ahead for Tomlin this year–he’s going to need to do a great job in light of all the changes to the team. 2017 or 2018 is probably the last year I thought they had the chance to be a Super bowl team. Even the 11-0 start in 2020 felt like a mirage.
The feat is impressive in its own right, but Mike T has said all along he’s not concerned with the streak. His concern is doing his job, which is to try to win as many games as possible.
Next week’s possibly unpopular opinion: The Steelers will throw for more touchdowns than the Ravens, Chiefs, and Bills, assuming Rodgers plays like he did in the second half of last season.
I suspect that Mike Tomlin cares about the non-losing streak more than he lets on but I agree that it’s probably not a primary driver for him.
For a few years now I have been opining that only Steeler fans spin never losing into a bad thing. Of course, playoffs matter. Getting to them matters too, though. I have posed the following question to several other Steeler fans; would you rather that the Steelers have won a playoff game in the past ten years at the expense of having a couple or three losing seasons during that time? Personally, I wouldn’t. Steeler fans don’t remember or realize how miserable playing out the string in December is.
I’m sure it’s a point of pride for him in the offseasons (and rightfully so). But in season, the goal is always to win the next game.
Maybe I’m reading this headline all wrong, but I don’t think most (serious) fans give a single rip about the “streak”. As a tool for mocking the “success” of the team? Sure. That’s pretty factual. In speaking for me, I don’t care at all about it. Is it nice? Sure. But, it doesn’t mean a dang thing and certainly doesn’t define success in the sense that most fans think of success — winning Super Bowls. Yes, that means we are an extremely spoiled fan base as THAT is our definition of success. Many/most other fan bases would love to have the type of “success” that the Steelers have had (i.e. winning seasons). I don’t think it’s enough for me. Or most fans. I also don’t believe it’s that important to coach Tomlin if those seasons aren’t followed by what the ultimate success is. But I also want to see how he changes the script to change the results we’ve gotten for over a decade. That is what I want.
Now, as far as the national media and the out of touch/town sports pundits go? I’m talking about the non-Steelers focused sites & outlets? Yeah, I think it matters to them. But most of them are irrelevant as far as I’m concerned.