Bears’ Bold Move: Chicago Tries to Lure Mike Tomlin Away from Steelers.
In a surprising move, the Chicago Bears recently reached out to the Pittsburgh Steelers to inquire about the availability of their longtime head coach, Mike Tomlin. However, the Steelers quickly shut down the conversation, making it clear that Tomlin is not going anywhere.
According to league sources, the Bears’ inquiry never made it to Tomlin, and even if it had, it’s unlikely that he would have been interested in leaving Pittsburgh. Tomlin has a no-trade clause in his contract, which effectively squashed any hopes the Bears may have had.
When asked about the possibility of another team trying to poach him, Tomlin responded with a confident “Save your time.” The Steelers have made it clear that they have no intention of parting ways with Tomlin, despite the team’s fifth consecutive one-and-done trip to the playoffs.
Tomlin, who signed a three-year contract extension last offseason, is one of the highest-paid head coaches in the league. With 18 seasons under his belt in Pittsburgh, he’s shown no signs of slowing down.
“I understand the nature of what it is that we do, the attention and criticism that comes with it,” Tomlin said in his season-ending news conference. “As a matter of fact, I embrace it, to be quite honest with you.”
The Bears, meanwhile, are continuing their search for a new head coach. They’ve already conducted interviews with a slew of candidates, including interim head coach Thomas Brown, former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, and Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
While the Bears’ attempt to lure Tomlin away from Pittsburgh may have been a long shot, it’s clear that they’re willing to think outside the box in their search for the right leader.
As one source noted, the Bears deserve credit for at least making the call. After all, as the saying goes, “you don’t ask, you don’t get.”
