Jalen Ramsey didn’t mince words when asked about the recent “Fire Mike Tomlin” chants that echoed from NFL fans, calling the backlash against his head coach flat-out ridiculous.
According to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the comments came ahead of Monday Night Football, with the Pittsburgh Steelers set to host the Miami Dolphins in their first home game since a lopsided loss to the Buffalo Bills sparked audible frustration from fans.
After that defeat, Pittsburgh supporters repeatedly called for Tomlin’s firing — a move Ramsey made clear he doesn’t understand.
“Me personally, I thought the chants were bulls**t,” Ramsey said. “That’s comical in my mind. That’s all I’ll say about that.”
Ramsey, who joined the Steelers in a blockbuster July trade with Miami that also involved Minkah Fitzpatrick, has quickly become a central voice in the locker room.
In his first season in Pittsburgh, the veteran cornerback has tallied 41 tackles and an interception, helping steady a defense navigating a turbulent stretch.
The timing of the criticism hasn’t gone unnoticed by players. Pittsburgh opened the season strong before sliding back into the AFC North logjam, briefly losing control of the division.
A Week 14 win over the Ravens restored the Steelers to the top spot, but the margin for error remains thin as the playoff race tightens.
While Ramsey acknowledged the frustration that comes with postseason shortcomings, he also emphasized how difficult sustained success is in the NFL. “It’s tough,” he said. “It’s the NFL. Any type of success you get, you cling on to it.”
Tomlin, now in his 19th season as head coach, has long been one of the league’s most stable figures. He has never posted a losing record, won Super Bowl XLIII, captured two AFC championships, and claimed seven AFC North titles — more than any coach since the division’s formation.
Still, recent playoff exits have fueled impatience among parts of the fan base. Tomlin has addressed that tension head-on, saying he understands where fans are coming from. “If you root for the Steelers, entertaining them is winning,” he said. “When you’re not winning, it’s not entertaining.”