Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has sparked a heated discussion in football circles with his uncompromising opinion on Mike Tomlin’s Hall of Fame prospects.
Harrison, whose career soared under Tomlin‘s guidance, argues that despite the coach’s long and successful tenure, Tomlin falls short of the standards required for Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, citing a combination of a weak playoff record and a lack of a coaching “tree.”
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Harrison, who played for the Steelers during Tomlin‘s early years and earned five straight Pro Bowl selections, made his views known on the Deebo & Joe podcast, which he co-hosts with former Steelers and Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden.
When Haden asked if Tomlin deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame, Harrison‘s answer was blunt and decisive: “No.” Haden, a three-time Pro Bowler who played under Tomlin from 2017 to 2021, expressed surprise, pointing out Tomlin’s sustained success over nearly two decades.
At the core of Harrison‘s critique is the idea that great coaches leave a legacy beyond personal wins. Harrison emphasized that despite nearly 20 years in Pittsburgh, Tomlin has not produced a single assistant who went on to become an NFL head coach.
“He’s the only coach that has coached this long and does not have a tree,” Harrison said, suggesting that this lack of disciples reflects poorly on his long-term impact.
Harrison also speculated that Tomlin may have been cautious in hiring high-profile coordinators in order to maintain his own spotlight, a decision he implied could limit the growth of future coaching talent.
Harrison did acknowledge Tomlin‘s accomplishments but maintained that they are insufficient for Hall of Fame consideration.
He specifically pointed to Tomlin‘s playoff record, noting that while he tied Chuck Noll with 193 regular-season wins, the most in Steelers history, he went just 8-12 in the postseason, including a seven-game playoff losing streak at the end of his career.
Harrison argues that no universally recognized coaching great has a negative postseason record, using this as a key metric to evaluate coaching greatness.
Hall of Fame debate divides opinion
Supporters of Tomlin counter that coaching greatness cannot be measured solely by assistants or playoff stats. They highlight Tomlin‘s ability to keep the Steelers consistently competitive, winning eight AFC North titles, never enduring a losing season, and delivering a Super Bowl victory in 2008.
From this perspective, success and impact on a franchise are equally vital when considering Hall of Fame worthiness.
Harrison‘s comments have ensured the debate about Tomlin‘s legacy will remain a hot topic. While some see him as a model of consistency and leadership, others agree with Harrison that the absence of a coaching tree and a subpar playoff record prevent him from reaching the sport’s highest honor.
The conversation highlights that defining coaching greatness is rarely straightforward, and Tomlin‘s place in history may continue to divide opinion for years to come.
