Sources – Bears trade request for Mike Tomlin rejected by Steelers

The Bears recently called the Steelers to see if they would be allowed to talk and possibly try to trade for longtime head coach Mike Tomlin, only to have Pittsburgh reject their inquiry, league sources said at ESPN.

The discussions never made it all the way to Tomlin and would not have succeeded even if they had. Asked earlier this week about the idea of ​​a team being able to inquire about his availability — when in fact at least one team had already done so — Tomlin replied, “Save your time.”

At least one other team besides the Bears considered the idea that they might somehow try to trade for Tomlin, only to be informed that the Steelers coach had a no-clause. trade in his contract, according to a league source. The investigative team quickly called off their efforts and left, sources said.

Although other teams have shown interest in Tomlin, the Steelers have no interest in moving on from him, despite Pittsburgh’s fifth straight trip to the playoffs.

Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension last offseason that made him one of the highest-paid head coaches in the league, and after 18 seasons in Pittsburgh, his time there shows no signs of slowdown, despite fans’ frustrations.

“I understand the nature of what we do and the attention and criticism that comes with it,” Tomlin said Tuesday during his end-of-season news conference. “I actually accept it, to be completely honest with you. I appreciate the urgency that comes with what I do and what we do.

“I don’t make excuses for failure. I own it, but I also feel that I am capable of it and so as long as I have the opportunity to do it, I will continue. But I certainly understand their frustrations and probably more important than that, I share it because that’s how I’m wired.”

But in the eyes of some sources, Chicago at least deserves to have made this decision. The Bears recognized the type of leader and coach Tomlin is and, in an effort to exhaust all possibilities, even contacted the Steelers to see if there was a way to release a coach who could have been more loved in Chicago than him. in Pittsburgh.

Even without Tomlin in the mix, the Bears cast a wide net in their head coaching search.

The Bears have already completed head coaching interviews with interim head coach Thomas Brown, former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, former Cowboys head coach. Mike McCarthy, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, former Commanders head coach Ron Rivera, former Stanford head coach David Shaw, former Titans head coach and current Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.

The Bears also requested interviews with Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell, Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich.

The Steelers have had just three head coaches since 1969: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin, who turns 53 in March. Tomlin has never had a losing season in Pittsburgh and is the second winningest coach in franchise history, behind Noll, with a career record of 183-107-2.