Bears among 2 teams inquiring with Steelers about trading for Mike Tomlin: report
The Bears and one other mystery team reached out to the Steelers about the possibility of trading for longtime coach Mike Tomlin, but quickly were told no, ESPN reported.
The team would have needed permission to negotiate with Tomlin in order to make a deal, and he indicated this week he had no interest in leaving the Steelers. "Save your time," he said when asked about a team inquiring.
Tomlin, 52, is one of the best coaches in the game, and there's little reason to believe the Steelers would want to move on from him. He has been their coach since 2007 and never had a losing season.
In 18 seasons coaching the Steelers, he has a 183-107-2 record and 12 playoff appearances, including a championship run in 2008. He is 12th all-time in wins, trailing only Andy Reid among active coaches.
He has faced some criticism lately because the team hasn't won a playoff game since reaching the AFC title game at the end of the 2016 season. Tomlin, however, hasn't had a good quarterback during much of that drought. After Ben Roethlisberger's career tapered off, the Steelers have tried Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Pickett, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at quarterback.
Getting Tomlin would've been an incredible heist by the Bears, who are working their way through at least 20 candidates as they look to hire their next coach. The most accomplished candidates they've interviewed are Pete Carroll and Mike McCarthy. Both are 18-year veterans like Tomlin, but neither has as good of a record.