Mike Tomlin Wouldn’t Be A ‘Players’ Coach’ If He Was An Old White Guy

Three days ago Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin claimed that the term “players’ coach” is a racist saying. On Tuesday the NFL head coach opened up about his recent comment. On Sunday Tomlin was speaking with a Fox reporter when he said the term offered racial and age undertones that he didn’t want to be associated with. He then argued that defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau could also be called a “players’ coach,” but that he isn’t because he is an “old white guy.”

Two days after making his original comment, Tomlinson told reporters, “I refuse to be put in a box. It’s my job to be what my team needs me to be. Sometimes it’s close and cuddly and sometimes it’s not. I don’t have any problem being any of the above.”

Tomlin further explains, “Sometimes when they couple ‘players’ coach’ with questions about how I wear my hair or what I choose to wear on the sidelines or what type of music I listen to, then it gets kind of old and falls into that category for me.”

Tomlin says he gets “annoyed” with the line of questioning that often surrounds his “haircut or the clothes that I wear or the type of music I listen to.”

An NBC reporter agreed with Tomlin’s assessment of the term, arguing that using words like “athletic” or “instinctive” to describe players sometimes results in “lazy” stereotyping by reporters.

Mike Tomlin’s comments come at a time when the Steelers coach has to be frustrated. Heading into the season Tomlin was incredibly excited about this team’s improved running game and their increased depth in their receivers group. However, despite high praises, the Steelers have fallen to a 2-2 start, despite a very favorable start of the season schedule.