You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. That’s the approach former Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn suggests the team should take. Quinn believes that if the organization fires current head coach Kevin Stefanski, they should hire Mike Tomlin.
I pause while you laugh and calm down.
“When you’re talking about a model of consistency,” Quinn said on Monday’s episode. Two Pros and Joe’s Cup on Fox Sports. “You’re talking about Tomlin’s culture. I was thinking about Cleveland the whole time right now. Who dropped another game they couldn’t even beat New Orleans? What does that mean for Kevin Stefanski? I don’t know if he will. It seems pretty strange that he would be fired after winning NFL Coach of the Year last year.
“If they do that and there’s an opening, I’ll call. I’ll call the Steelers, dude…if it were me. [owner] We’re going to do whatever it takes to get Jimmy Haslam and Mike Tomlin. And at least let them say no. Make them an offer they can’t refuse. And make them say no. That’s the approach I take. ”
Quinn admitted at the outset that it was a “ridiculous” idea, but pointed to Cleveland’s all-out decision to acquire QB Deshaun Watson. If the owners wanted to be as aggressive as they were, offering a fully guaranteed $230 million contract and three first-round picks, the Browns would be bold enough to pursue Tomlin. You should have it.
Without actually having to explain it to you, I will begrudgingly explain it to you, but this is an insane perspective. There may be infinite worlds out there, but none exist where the Pittsburgh Steelers trade Mike Tomlin to the Cleveland Browns. There is no trade package worth considering such a deal. Once Cleveland makes that call, build a time machine and stop Alexander Graham Bell from inventing the telephone. It just wasn’t worth it.
This would have been Quinn’s opinion. just a little bit It wasn’t all that funny a year ago, when the Steelers were on a three-game losing streak and their playoff hopes were fading. For the first time, national media addressed whether 2023 will be Tomlin’s last year in Pittsburgh. Those doubts were quickly dispelled as the Steelers won their final three games of the regular season to advance to the postseason.
In June, Tomlin signed an extension that will keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2027 season. He turned the Steelers into an 8-2 AFC favorite this season, leading the division after the first 11 weeks. Tomlin was praised for making the courageous decision to start QB Russell Wilson despite the team’s success under coach Justin Fields, calling it the right decision. That includes Quinn, who believes culture is exactly what Cleveland needs.
“That’s never going to happen,” Quinn admitted. “But for me personally, I feel like if I was a part of that organization…I would definitely call Mike Tomlin. And I feel like his culture, his coaching, his… We’ll try to find out if there’s an attempt to get everything that we can bring. And try to bring it to Cleveland. That would be one of the first calls.”
It was the shortest phone call ever, and may have only been extended when a bewildered Art Rooney II looked up the area code to make sure it wasn’t a prank. Cleveland has a Pittsburgh connection with Jimmy Haslam, who was a minority owner of the Steelers before buying the Browns in 2012, but he would be embarrassed to even ask. Not to mention entertaining Pittsburghers.
This isn’t the first time the former quarterback has suggested Tomlin should or could go elsewhere. In 2021, Carson Palmer brought up Tomlin’s name as someone USC was considering the vacant job. This led to a short article in the media, and Tomlin responded in an unprecedented way when asked to respond to the rumors.
“Folks, we don’t have time for speculation like that,” a visibly upset Mike Tomlin said in October 2021. I have one of the best jobs in professional sports. Why are you interested in coaching college football? This is the last time I’ll mention this. Not just for today, but moving forward. Never say “never.”
“Does anyone have any questions about college work?” There is no booster with a blank check large enough. Does anyone ask Sean Payton about that? Does anyone ask Andy Reid about such things?
To this day, those two lines are “I never say ‘never'” and “It’s not a booster with a big enough blank check.” It is still repeated as a soundbite on A-plus radio.
Quinn admits it’s impossible, but thinks it’s worth asking.
“That sounds crazy,” Quinn said. “And people in Pittsburgh are going to criticize me, and people in Cleveland are going to think it’s ridiculous. But if the job came up and I was part of the group that was going to do it, I I’m trying to do my best there. And that’s who I’m trying to get.”
Don’t worry, Brady Quinn. it’s not sound Crazy. that teeth Crazy. And everyone, Cleveland or not, thinks that’s ridiculous.
Stefanski brought short-lived success to the Browns, even knocking the Steelers out of the playoffs in the 2020 Wild Card Game (a game Stefanski watched from home after testing for the coronavirus). However, Cleveland has slumped since acquiring Watson, and the Browns’ future will end the season with uncertainty.
Quinn has shared the Browns’ misfortune since returning to the organization in 1999. He was a first-round pick in 2007 and started 12 games for Cleveland. His play was disastrous, posting a 3-9 record while throwing 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. One of them was the win against Pittsburgh. In his only start against the Steelers, the Browns won without much effort from him. On a frigid night in 2009, Quinn went 6-of-19 for 90 yards and no touchdowns, but Cleveland ran for 171 yards, sacked quarterback Ben Roethlisberger eight times and won 13-6. did.
In all fairness and grace, Quinn clearly respects and admires Mike Tomlin. For good reason. And his stance is the most charitable one: It’s worth doing whatever it takes to attract top talent. There should be no problems.
“That would be interesting. At the end of the day, is that what he wants to do? Does he want to inherit everything that’s going on in Cleveland? I think probably not… at least if they say no. It’s worth the effort to be able to hear it.
To answer these two questions. No, and No no no. Tomlin doesn’t want to coach the Browns. He will be giving up the most secure job in professional sports for one of the most turbulent. Since Tomlin took over Pittsburgh in 2007, the franchise has had nine head coaches.
The closest Mike Tomlin will be to Cleveland this week is when he travels with the Steelers for Thursday night’s game on Lake Erie. Once the game is over, he won’t come back.
Stefanski has shown staying power and will likely return in 2025 despite a slow season. But if Black Monday comes and he gets fired, not even the Browns would be stupid enough to call the Steelers and ask if they’re interested in Tomlin. They can call Bill Belichick, they can call Ben Johnson, they can put their two kids in trench coats and run the show — the results are going to be this bad. That’s impossible — but Tomlin won’t quit.
