Mike Tomlin Reveals Why Steelers Traded Him
Orlando, Florida — Head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin, stated that the sale of veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers earlier this month was motivated by the team’s desire to improve at cornerback and that Johnson had not expressly asked for a move.
In the Johnson deal package with Carolina, the Steelers acquired experienced cornerback Dontae Jackson, who Tomlin claimed addresses a critical need.
“Man, it was really that easy,” he remarked. “We swapped one player for another. We were able to get D-Jack, or Donte Jackson.
Throughout the years in Pittsburgh, Johnson appeared less and less content, even if Tomlin denied having asked for a move as had been rumored. He allegedly got into a fight with quarterback Mitch Trubisky during the team’s Week 4 loss to the New York Jets in 2022. Johnson got into a fight with Minkah Fitzpatrick following a game the previous season. Johnson wasn’t very happy with Kenny Pickett’s potential his quarterback. He publicly expressed that he hoped Mason Rudolph would be the starter going forward. Johnson had been entering the final year of his two-year extension with the team.
Jackson told Dale Lolley of Steelers.com that Tomlin had been after him for a long time when he made his first visit to the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex following his trade from Carolina. That was verified by Tomlin in Orlando.
At the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday, Jackson stated, “Coach Tomlin, he was on me a lot coming out of college and a lot when I was getting ready to sign my second contract.” The Steelers were right there when I inked a second deal with the Panthers. They were present at the most recent trade deadline.
And they’re back there right now. Thus, it seems like it was intended to be. I have so much love and thanks for this organization that words cannot begin to describe how they not only took a risk on me but also made me a man who they genuinely seemed to desire for years and years. I’m at last able to be present here.
It seemed to have occurred at the appropriate time, in my opinion. I’ve been giving it my all. I’m simply excited to surprise the league by going out there and playing this fantastic defense. I simply cannot wait.