Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin has coached the team for 19 seasons. He has remarkably never had a losing season, a consistency that has been his biggest compliment.

Despite that success, Tomlin has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season, leaving many fans and pundits unsure about what the future holds for him and the Steelers.

The idea of Tomlin being fired seems unlikely, but some speculate a mutual parting of ways could happen if the team struggles and loses in Week 18 to the Baltimore Ravens, potentially missing the playoffs.

Just a week ago, the Steelers were riding high after a win against the Detroit Lions, but a Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns has turned this Week 18 matchup into a win-or-go-home regular season finale for both teams. The pressure on Tomlin is at an all-time high.

Former Steelers safety Ryan Clark addressed the situation on ESPN’s First Take on Thursday, making a bold prediction. Clark suggested that Tomlin will be the next head coach of the New York Giants for the 2026 season.

Clark’s take added fuel to ongoing debates about Tomlin’s legacy in Pittsburgh and whether the Steelers’ front office might consider a change after nearly two decades of consistent, yet recently playoff-limited, performance.

“Mike Tomlin leads the New York Giants to the playoffs,” Clark said while kicking off the new year with a bold prediction about his former coach.

Tomlin’s tenure has been defined by stability and respect, but the lack of recent playoff success has cast a shadow over his otherwise remarkable career.

While he remains one of the NFL’s most respected Head Coaches, the speculation from pundits like Clark underscores the uncertainty that can come even for legendary figures in professional sports.

For Steelers fans, the question is not just about wins and losses, but whether the team can strike the right balance between loyalty to a storied head coach and the need for postseason success. What’s even crazier about Clark’s prediction is that he believes Tomlin won’t just coach the Giants, but in his first year, he will lead them to the playoffs.

“Mutual parting of ways after they lose to the Ravens this weekend,” Clark said. “The Rooney/Mara family, because of that, Mike Tomlin’s now the new head coach of the New York Giants. You wanna make a splash. You want to get the right guy. You wanna change the culture. That’s the way to do it.”

Tomlin has been heavily connected to the Giants’ coaching vacancy after they decided to fire Head Coach Brian Daboll during the 2025 season. The idea is a fun one to consider and makes some sense, but turning the Giants around is no easy task. Tomlin has already struggled lately in Pittsburgh to find playoff success.

All Eyes Turn To Steelers’ Mike Tomlin As He Fights For The Playoffs

Now Clark is suggesting he could take a young team and turn them into a playoff contender in his first year if he left Pittsburgh. It seems far-fetched, but it’s not impossible, considering the leadership and culture-setting ability that Tomlin brings as a head coach in the NFL.

Of course, if Tomlin beats the Ravens in Week 18 and goes on a deep playoff run, this conversation will become moot. But if the Steelers lose and miss the playoffs, the fans are likely to be screaming for him to be fired, and the speculation about his future will heat up even more.