Ben Roethlisberger makes staggering reversal on his Mike Tomlin-Steelers comments

Ben Roethlisberger has backtracked on his recent “maybe it’s clean-house time” comments concerning the future of longtime Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Big Ben did so before he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Honor at halftime of Monday night’s 28-15 victory over the Dolphins. Tomlin, Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers improved to 8-6 on the season, one game ahead of the Ravens in the NFC North.

“Just because I said there’s a time for some new things, that’s just saying that I think Coach Tomlin — if he wants to move on, he has every right to move on, it’s not they should,” Roethlisberger told reporters. “It’s up to him, and he’s earned that right. If he wants to do something else, he can and he should and we should honor him whenever that time comes. Maybe he wants to coach here for another 10 years, that’s fine too.”

The comments were a reversal from those made by the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback earlier this month on his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast following a Week 13 loss to the Bills during which fans chanted “Fire Tomlin” at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh.

“Maybe it’s a clean-house time,” Roethlisberger said on Dec. 2. “Maybe it is, maybe it’s time. And I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin. But maybe it’s best for him, too… Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best.

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“Whether that’s in the pros, maybe — go be Penn State’s head coach. You know what he’d do at Penn State? He would probably go win national championships. Because he’s a great recruiter.”

Penn State eventually hired Iowa State’s Matt Campbell as the replacement for fired coach James Franklin.

The 53-year-old Tomlin has compiled a record of 190-113-2 with one Super Bowl title and zero losing seasons in 19 years as the Steelers head coach.  

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