Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson issues a warning to fans hoping the team will part ways with head coach Mike Tomlin.
Many fans have called for the Pittsburgh Steelers to move on from head coach Mike Tomlin after the team's sixth straight playoff loss. Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson thinks they'd regret that decision if it happens.
"The message to the Tomlin haters," Jackson said on "The Christian Kuntz Podcast." "I would just be like, 'Be careful what you wish for.' I've seen in my six years in Carolina, I've seen three coaches get fired during the season. Some guys go through their whole career and not see one head coach get fired. Period. Not let alone during the season. I've seen three get fired during the season. That's crazy. I've been under three interim head coaches, and in six seasons."
Jackson knows a thing or two about being on poorly-coached teams. He spent the first six years of his NFL career playing for the Carolina Panthers .
During that span, Jackson was never part of a team with a winning record. From 2018-23, the Panthers went 31-68, never amassing more than seven wins in a season.
"I've never had a winning season until I got here," Jackson said. "Never had a playoff game until this year."
Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) stands on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
So Jackson implores fans wishing for the Steelers to start over at head coach will think a little bit longer about what that would look like.
That didn't come so easy when he was with the Panthers.
"Starting over is hard," Jackson said. "This is a great situation. He's a great, proven coach. The NFL is hard. Getting over that hump is hard."
Of course, the Steelers need to find a way to end their eight-year postseason win drought sooner rather than later, but parting ways with a coach who has never had a losing season in 18 years may not be the answer.
The Steelers haven't shown any signs of wanting to move on from Tomlin as they have already rejected two teams that have called about his availability. Jackson is among the select group that thinks that was the right call.
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