It was only three years ago that Mike Tomlin beat the Whiz, Ken Whisenhunt, for the Steelers head coaching job,. Then he beat him in the Super Bowl.
But Whisenhunt beat Tomlin to getting a contract extension first this offseason. And while it hardly makes up for losing a championship game, Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette points out that Whisenhunt’s new deal makes life tougher on Steelers president Art Rooney II.
The Steelers don’t overpay anyone, including their coaches. Whisenhunt just got $6 million-per-season in Arizona. That’s likely more than the Steelers were planning to pay, yet Tomlin’s resume would indicate he’s worth more than Whisenhunt.
Cook thought a contract extension for Tomlin was an automatic this offseason, but now isn’t so sure. Ultimately, logic says an agreement should get done.
Tomlin knows he’s got a great job, and the Steelers know they have a good coach. Tomlin may just have to take less money than Whisenhunt to seal the deal.