Jalen Ramsey's Unfiltered Take: Why Firing Mike Tomlin Was a Ludicrous Idea, Even After a Tough Loss

You know how it goes in professional sports, right? One minute, a coach is heralded, the next, after a particularly gut-wrenching loss, the pitchforks come out. That's precisely what unfolded back in late 2018 when the Pittsburgh Steelers, battling for a playoff spot, suffered a tough 31-28 defeat to the New Orleans Saints. The internet, as it often does, erupted in a flurry of hot takes, with a significant chorus of fans demanding the unthinkable: fire Mike Tomlin.

It was a truly pivotal game, a Week 16 clash with huge implications. The Steelers had just mounted a furious comeback, only to fall short in the final moments. What really seemed to spark the outrage, beyond just the loss itself, was Tomlin's decision to go for a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter while trailing 30-24. The attempt failed, and though the Saints eventually added another field goal, that particular play became a flashpoint for fan frustration.

As the calls for Tomlin's job echoed across social media, a rather unexpected voice chimed in – and it wasn't a Steelers player or a former coach. It was Jalen Ramsey, who, at the time, was a star cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars, a direct AFC rival. And let me tell you, Ramsey didn't just 'chime in'; he dropped a full-on sermon, passionately defending Tomlin and lambasting the fickle nature of the fanbase.

Ramsey's reaction was swift and unequivocal. He essentially told those fans to pump the brakes, reminding everyone that Tomlin is, and I quote from the sentiment of his posts, a "damn good coach." He pointed out, quite rightly, that Tomlin consistently leads winning teams. Think about it: at that point, Tomlin had never had a losing season in Pittsburgh. Not one. That's a staggering testament to his leadership and ability to keep a team competitive year after year, especially in a league designed for parity.

He wasn't shy about calling out the sheer lack of perspective. "You want to fire a coach who's literally never had a losing season?" he seemed to ask, incredulously. It was a powerful counter-narrative, coming from a player who faced Tomlin's Steelers twice a year. Ramsey understood the immense challenge of maintaining success in the NFL, and he saw firsthand the discipline and structure Tomlin instilled in his teams.

Ramsey's argument wasn't just about the numbers, though the numbers certainly backed him up (Super Bowl XLIII win, multiple division titles, consistent playoff contention). It was about respect for a coach who, despite the occasional tough loss or questionable play call, consistently gets his players to perform at a high level. It was a refreshing dose of reality, a reminder that knee-jerk reactions, especially in the heat of a disappointing moment, rarely tell the full story. Sometimes, it takes an outsider, a rival even, to cut through the noise and highlight what's truly valuable.