Mike Tomlin Is Keeping the Important Things Important
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Since 1966, the Pittsburgh Steelers have enjoyed one of the most unique training camp experiences in the NFL. Each year, Saint Vincent College in Latrobe and its priests, monks, faculty, and students welcome the Black and Gold during the dog days of summer.
As 2023 camp opened, Peter King of NBC Sports found himself in conversation with one of the revered monks. “What do you think of Mike Tomlin?” King asked. “I’m learning from him every day,” the monk said. When King pressed the monk on what he meant, the monk simply replied, “He keeps the important thing the important thing.”
No truer words have been spoken about an NFL head coach. Regardless of record, roster, or situation, Tomlin always focuses on the vital aspects of leading his men. Fortunately for the long-tenured frontman, this year’s camp is making that task easy.
The early buzz out of Latrobe is that there is no buzz. For the first time in years, the Steelers are preparing for the season without any major drama or messy storylines. “Camp Tranquility,” as King has branded it. “Zero controversies, no huge battles for jobs.”
Tranquility means an opportunity for Tomlin to do what he does best: teach and develop. And he’s loving every minute of the experience. “Probably enjoying it more than I ever have,” Tomlin said after practice. “I just think it’s…I’m not distracted by things that could be a pebble in your shoe. I just take the pebble out and keep moving. You got to have a certain level of experience to have that mentality, and I’m glad that I do. I don’t get distracted by things that are irrelevant in terms of this team’s development, and it allows me to focus my energies on what is important and on these guys, and the purity of that is fun for me.”
The camp’s calm and focused demeanor is certainly aided by the team’s new veteran leadership of Patrick Peterson, Allen Robinson, and Isaac Seumalo. But make no mistake, Tomlin’s reputation is a big reason for their presence. The Steelers “really benefit by the absolute rock-solid leadership of Mike Tomlin” Peterson told King. “Players want to come here and play. Allen Robinson is here trying to make a comeback as a wide receiver. Isaac Seumalo at guard, and you have a built-in advantage and edge because players really enjoy playing in this city and for this coach.”
Omar Khan has built this team correctly. He’s slowly growing a roster around a young, cheap quarterback while his divisional counterparts have (or will soon have) given mega deals to their superstar QBs. His focus on high-character youngsters and veteran leaders is paying dividends and giving his stalwart coach his best chance to create something special in years. But, as the monk said, it all starts with a focus on the important things.
“I just think it’s not only professional football, but it’s professional sport,” Tomlin said. “There’s a lot of things surrounding the game, and particularly we got a young, developing group. I think as important as it is to teach them the schematics, the assignment, and so forth, it is to teach them the focus. To educate them regarding some of the things that’s around professional football and professional sport so that they can sustain their attention and it can be directed properly, so that the growth process isn’t interrupted by nonsense, and so you know that’s big on my agenda.”
With a defense that looks to be among the league’s best and an offensive unit that has the potential to level up, a calm training camp is allowing Tomlin to give his players everything they need. If that trend continues, the Steelers could find themselves focusing on the import things in some very important games.
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