what did ben roethlisberger say about mike tomlin

Ben Roethlisberger has recently talked about Mike Tomlin in two main ways: first by openly wondering if it might be “clean-house time” in Pittsburgh, and then by walking those comments back and strongly praising Tomlin as a Hall of Fame–level coach who has earned the right to decide his own future.

Quick Scoop: What he actually said

On his podcast after a rough Steelers stretch, Roethlisberger suggested it might be time for a reset between Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. He framed it as:

• “Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it is, maybe it’s time.”

• He said he likes Tomlin and has “a lot of respect” for him but wondered if “maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best,” even floating the idea of Tomlin going to Penn State, where he said Tomlin could win national championships because he’s a great recruiter.

That “clean-house” line and the Penn State suggestion set off a wave of fan and media conversation, especially coming from the quarterback who played nearly his entire career with Tomlin.

How he walked it back

Ahead of his Hall of Honor induction at a Steelers home game, Roethlisberger clarified that he did not mean the Steelers should fire Tomlin. He said:

• “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.”

• “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.”

On his podcast he also emphasized that “you don’t fire a guy like Coach Tomlin,” calling him a Hall of Fame coach who is highly respected. In his view, if there’s ever a split, it should be handled as a mutual decision where both sides agree it’s time and the organization honors Tomlin with the respect he’s earned.

What this means in 2025–26 context

The comments landed during a tense season, with fans chanting “Fire Tomlin” after a loss and broader questions about whether the long Tomlin era might finally be nearing a turning point. Roethlisberger’s take now sits in a middle lane:

• He openly admits it might be time for a reset between Tomlin and the Steelers.
• He insists Tomlin shouldn’t be fired, but rather allowed to decide if and when he moves on, with the team treating him like a franchise legend on the way out.

So if you’re trying to sum it up in one line: Roethlisberger said maybe it’s “clean-house” time for the Steelers and Tomlin, then clarified that Tomlin is a Hall of Fame coach who deserves to choose his own next step and be honored whenever that day comes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.