Steelers work to keep playoff hopes, Mike Tomlin’s streak alive – NFL Nation

PITTSBURGH — Montravius Adams paused as he thought of the query.

How did Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin change the trajectory of the nostril deal with’s profession?

“I actually do not need to say this, but when I am being 100% trustworthy, I might probably be residence with my household,” Adams instructed ESPN just lately. “What he did for me mentally was nice. Like, cannot even be defined. He’s considered one of them dudes you’ll run by way of a wall for, most positively.”

Adams, a former Green Bay Packers third-round draft decide, was on the New Orleans Saints apply squad in November 2021 when the Steelers known as to signal him to their lively roster. He spent all season bouncing between the Saints’ lively roster and apply squad after being launched by the Patriots throughout coaching camp.

Adams first met Tomlin when he got here out for the NFL draft in 2017. When Adams’ rookie contract in Inexperienced Bay was up, the Steelers provided him a deal. As a substitute, Adams went to the Patriots, solely to be minimize a few months later. However Tomlin saved tabs on Adams, and when attrition hit the Steelers’ defensive position late final season, Tomlin considered him.

“He gave me a possibility to return in as a nostril, begin, play,” Adams mentioned. “He simply gave me confidence that I did not have on the time.

“Typically it’s not speaking; it might simply be a gesture, only a look that we each can perceive. And simply the best way he treats us.”

Adams is much from the one Steelers participant who appreciates Tomlin’s strategy. From gamers who had been drafted into the group to others who signed after stops across the league, Tomlin’s transparency and consistency proceed to endear him to the locker room and are main elements within the staff’s possibilities — although slim — to make the playoffs after a 2-6 begin.

“He all the time simply challenges us,” offensive lineman Kevin Dotson mentioned. “He all the time provides us one thing to have a look at or stay up for, simply individually challenges you — like he calls your identify particularly. ‘I wanna see you this week. I wanna see you go laborious this week. I am gonna be watching you.’ They are saying he is a gamers’ coach. You need to show him proper. You need to make him proud.”

With two video games left within the common season and a 7-8 report, the Steelers enter Sunday evening’s pivotal rematch with the Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) enjoying to maintain their postseason hopes alive. They’re additionally attempting to maintain Tomlin’s historic 15-season streak of by no means ending under .500 intact. Whereas Tomlin downplays the non-public accomplishment, it’s one thing many within the locker room are conscious of and provides to the motivation over the ultimate two weeks of the season.

“I did not hear about it ’til the tip of final 12 months,” cornerback Arthur Maulet mentioned. “It places good strain on us. It helps us compete. Clearly, we’d like these two subsequent video games to maintain it going. … I have been speaking to a few guys about it, and we’re simply attempting to take possession and preserve that report going.

“We do not wanna be the primary staff [to finish below .500].”

Although they could possibly be eradicated from the playoffs earlier than Sunday evening’s kickoff if the Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots, the Steelers can nonetheless keep away from Tomlin’s first shedding season with both two wins or a win and a tie.

A lifelong Steelers fan earlier than he was drafted, Dotson knew about Tomlin’s streak earlier than he arrived in Pittsburgh as a fourth-round decide in 2020.

“As a younger child, you actually do not take into consideration wins and losses that a lot,” Dotson mentioned. “You’re simply eager about the fellows within the uniforms and stuff like that.

“The older you get, you begin realizing why you selected the staff. You’re all the time like, wait, we’re type of successful, regardless. So that you’re gonna discover that sort of factor.”

Since he bought to Pittsburgh, Dotson has grown to understand the importance of the streak much more.

“They’re enjoying as laborious as they had been as a result of they had been enjoying for him and enjoying for the staff and the tradition that he created round it,” Dotson mentioned. “It’s simply been a giant factor for us.”

A few days earlier than a recreation earlier this season, Tomlin sat on the small folding desk used for card video games within the Steelers’ locker room.

A handful of gamers surrounded him, speaking and chopping up with their head coach. The locker room is the gamers’ sanctuary, however in Pittsburgh, it’s a spot the place the top coach is welcomed.

It’s one thing of a rarity to see an NFL head coach so comfy in a locker room. Some coaches make fast rounds to test in on accidents, some go by way of on the best way to a staff assembly, whereas others keep away from the locker room altogether in an effort to protect a players-only protected area.

Tomlin, although, is as a lot a part of the material of the locker room because the gamers with their names engraved above particular person stalls.

He’s a no-nonsense coach, however in spending time along with his gamers, he has constructed up a mutual degree of respect that retains them motivated and enjoying — and by some means virtually all the time has them within the December playoff dialog, even when it as soon as appeared unbelievable.

“It’s his management and the way clear he’s,” middle Mason Cole mentioned, explaining what makes Tomin totally different from different coaches. “On this league, communication is not all the time the most effective. I believe there’s a number of stuff that goes on behind closed doorways that does not get communicated to gamers, however I believe Coach Tomlin does a very good job of simply being open. … You all the time know the place you are gonna stand with him … and all the time gonna understand how he feels by your play and the way you’re as an individual.

“There’s simply no bulls— about it.”