PITTSBURGH — Montravius Adams paused as he thought of the query.
How did Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin change the trajectory of the nostril deal with’s profession?
“I actually do not need to say this, but when I am being 100% sincere, I might probably be house with my household,” Adams advised ESPN just lately. “What he did for me mentally was nice. Like, cannot even be defined. He’s considered one of them dudes you’ll run by way of a wall for, most undoubtedly.”
Adams, a former Inexperienced Bay Packers third-round draft decide, was on the New Orleans Saints observe squad in November 2021 when the Steelers referred to as to signal him to their lively roster. He spent all season bouncing between the Saints’ lively roster and observe squad after being launched by the Patriots throughout coaching camp.
Adams first met Tomlin when he got here out for the NFL draft in 2017. When Adams’ rookie contract in Inexperienced Bay was up, the Steelers provided him a deal. As a substitute, Adams went to the Patriots, solely to be reduce a few months later. However Tomlin stored tabs on Adams, and when attrition hit the Steelers’ defensive position late final season, Tomlin considered him.
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“He gave me a possibility to return in as a nostril, begin, play,” Adams mentioned. “He simply gave me confidence that I did not have on the time.
“Typically it’s not speaking; it might simply be a gesture, only a look that we each can perceive. And simply the best way he treats us.”
Adams is way from the one Steelers participant who appreciates Tomlin’s method. From gamers who had been drafted into the group to others who signed after stops across the league, Tomlin’s transparency and consistency proceed to endear him to the locker room and are main elements within the crew’s probabilities — although slim — to make the playoffs after a 2-6 begin.
“He all the time simply challenges us,” offensive lineman Kevin Dotson mentioned. “He all the time offers us one thing to take a look at or stay up for, simply individually challenges you — like he calls your title particularly. ‘I wanna see you this week. I wanna see you go exhausting this week. I am gonna be watching you.’ They are saying he is a gamers’ coach. You need to show him proper. You need to make him proud.”
With two video games left within the common season and a 7-8 document, the Steelers enter Sunday night time’s pivotal rematch with the Baltimore Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC) taking part in to maintain their postseason hopes alive. They’re additionally making an attempt to maintain Tomlin’s historic 15-season streak of by no means ending beneath .500 intact. Whereas Tomlin downplays the non-public accomplishment, it’s one thing many within the locker room are conscious of and provides to the motivation over the ultimate two weeks of the season.
“I did not hear about it ’til the tip of final yr,” cornerback Arthur Maulet mentioned. “It places good stress on us. It helps us compete. Clearly, we’d like these two subsequent video games to maintain it going. … I have been speaking to a few guys about it, and we’re simply making an attempt to take possession and maintain that document going.
“We do not wanna be the primary crew [to finish below .500].”
Although they may very well be eradicated from the playoffs earlier than Sunday night time’s kickoff if the Miami Dolphins beat the New England Patriots, the Steelers can nonetheless keep away from Tomlin’s first dropping season with both two wins or a win and a tie.
A lifelong Steelers fan earlier than he was drafted, Dotson knew about Tomlin’s streak earlier than he arrived in Pittsburgh as a fourth-round decide in 2020.
“As a younger child, you actually do not take into consideration wins and losses that a lot,” Dotson mentioned. “You’re simply eager about the blokes within the uniforms and stuff like that.
“The older you get, you begin realizing why you selected the crew. You’re all the time like, wait, we’re sort of profitable, regardless. So that you’re gonna discover that sort of factor.”
Since he bought to Pittsburgh, Dotson has grown to understand the importance of the streak much more.
“They’re taking part in as exhausting as they had been as a result of they had been taking part in for him and taking part in for the crew and the tradition that he created round it,” Dotson mentioned. “It’s simply been a giant factor for us.”
A few days earlier than a sport earlier this season, Tomlin sat on the small folding desk used for card video games within the Steelers’ locker room.
A handful of gamers surrounded him, speaking and chopping up with their head coach. The locker room is the gamers’ sanctuary, however in Pittsburgh, it’s a spot the place the top coach is welcomed.
It’s one thing of a rarity to see an NFL head coach so comfy in a locker room. Some coaches make fast rounds to test in on accidents, some move by way of on the best way to a crew assembly, whereas others keep away from the locker room altogether in an effort to protect a players-only secure area.
Tomlin, although, is as a lot a part of the material of the locker room because the gamers with their names engraved above particular person stalls.
He’s a no-nonsense coach, however in spending time along with his gamers, he has constructed up a mutual stage of respect that retains them motivated and taking part in — and by some means nearly all the time has them within the December playoff dialog, even when it as soon as appeared unbelievable.
“It’s his management and the way clear he’s,” heart Mason Cole mentioned, explaining what makes Tomin totally different from different coaches. “On this league, communication is not all the time the most effective. I feel there’s a number of stuff that goes on behind closed doorways that does not get communicated to gamers, however I feel Coach Tomlin does a extremely good job of simply being open. … You all the time know the place you are gonna stand with him … and all the time gonna understand how he feels by your play and the way you’re as an individual.
“There’s simply no bulls— about it.”
