Mike McCarthy defends Steelers coach Mike Tomlin amid criticism: 'He can coach as long as he wants'

During the Steelers’ 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Pittsburgh fans chanted for the organization to fire longtime head coach Mike Tomlin. On The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy weighed in on Tomlin’s situation in Pittsburgh.

“Just the energy of the week-to-week, negativity or positivity, the way this pendulum swings just across the league, it’s amazing to me,” McCarthy said. “Pittsburgh is obviously in that situation. But I have the utmost respect for Mike Tomlin.

“I’ve competed against Mike, you know, and I think Mike is really starting the second half of a Hall-of-Fame career. I think Mike’s in his early 50s. He can coach along as he wants. But they’re playing for first place on Sunday. They’ve been in these kind of spots before, and it’s hard. It’s hard. Now, and you get it. It’s about winning, and it’s about who’s putting the next Super Bowl Trophy in that case.”

Tomlin has been the Steelers’ head coach since 2007. He’s led the organization to 12 playoff appearances, seven division titles and a Super Bowl victory in 2008.

While Tomlin has continued to lead the Steelers to winning seasons in recent years, he hasn’t reached the same heights he accomplished during his early seasons with the organization. With the loss on Sunday, the Steelers fell to 6-6 on the season.

It was a lackluster performance for the Steelers, who allowed 249 rushing yards, the most ever in Acrisure Stadium. Alas, the Steelers’ season is far from over.

The Steelers are tied with Baltimore for first place in the AFC North. With a win over the Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers will take sole possession of the top of the division.

“He’ll do a great job getting them ready,” McCarthy said of Tomlin. “This is going to be another game that I definitely will sit down and watch. Pittsburgh and Baltimore, anytime these guys get together — Mike and John have played against each other more than anybody.

“So, that’s my reality. That’s how I look at it. I just think let it play out. Just let this play out. He’s been in this spot a bunch of times. You just got to get into the tournament. You guys got to be relatively healthy and, most important, is the confidence of that locker. And that’s how you want it.”

The Steelers will square off against the Ravens at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will air live on CBS.