PITTSBURGH – Mike Tomlin has a message to any team considering inquiring from the Steelers about his availability for a possible trade.

“Save your time,” the head coach said in his end-of-season press conference on Tuesday.

After the Steelers reached the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, Tomlin’s professional status and future with the organization became a hot topic of discussion and caused consternation among fans. Tomlin, who signed a three-year extension last offseason and just finished his 18th season at the helm, said he understands their frustration.

“I understand the nature of what we do, the attention and criticism that comes with it,” he said. “In fact, I suppose so, to be completely honest. I enjoy the urgency that comes with what I do and what we do.”

“I don’t apologize for failures. I stand by it, but I also feel like I’m capable, and as long as I have the opportunity, I’ll keep going, but I definitely understand their frustration and probably do.” And more importantly, I share it , because that’s how I’m wired.”

During his final press conference, Tomlin expressed his disappointment with how the season ended, but admitted that the season-ending five games, capped with a 28-14 wild-card loss to the Ravens, were “football justice.”

“I don’t look at it as a misfortune, to be completely honest,” Tomlin said. “Especially at this level in this business and game, there is football justice. You get what you deserve and that’s why we’re here and we’re here for really tangible reasons. We didn’t engage in the right way. We didn’t.” Strike the right chords at the right time, especially on the track.

Tomlin said there will be “changes” in the organization but did not go into specifics, saying the postseason debriefing was still in its infancy. He met with his players as a group on Monday and also began individual exit meetings. He also met with owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan.

“Of course, change happens when we don’t get the result we want, and so those are just the realities of business,” Tomlin said. “I would imagine that some things will change here on many levels, but this is this game as I mentioned it and so I understand that. I’m open to the fact that the processes of some of this are just beginning. “ the decision making that needs to be made.

Possible changes include the composition of the quarterback room. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields have expiring contracts and the team signed quarterback Skylar Thompson on Tuesday afternoon, Thompson’s agency announced on social media. Thompson, who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, played 10 games for Miami with three starts in two seasons and had one touchdown and three interceptions.

Wilson said Monday that “the plan” is to be in Pittsburgh in 2025, but later admitted he has not yet met with the Steelers to begin those discussions.

Tomlin said he believes both Wilson and Fields can help the Steelers take the next step in getting where the organization wants to go.

“Their professionalism, their business approach and their relationship with the game alone were an encouragement in this regard,” said Tomlin, explaining his belief.

Tomlin also said he believes Fields, who went 4-2 in six starts to start the season, will be a 17-game starter when Wilson ultimately decides to leave in free agency.

“I thought the way he handled his professional circumstances was really impressive,” Tomlin said. “I thought that regardless of his role, he brought an urgency to his daily work. I thought he continued to improve throughout the process in our ball system. I thought the way he was acting made that a legitimate thought or idea at that point.”

And while he said he didn’t think the organization was stuck despite six playoff losses in eight years, Tomlin also didn’t go out of his way to express hope and optimism for the future.

“I’m definitely disappointed that I’m not preparing to play this week,” he said. “And I’ve certainly felt that over the last few years, but being stuck is kind of a feeling of helplessness, and I don’t know if I feel helpless.”

He added: “I also don’t know if I’m ready to be overly optimistic or sell you optimism. “I’m just acknowledging what has happened and what needs to happen and what’s starting to happen, and acknowledging the complexity and the magnitude.” I certainly feel capable, but I’m not in the mood to sell optimism. I don’t know that’s not appropriate work and that’s where we are.