Report: Steelers deny Bears’ request to trade for Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers have denied the Chicago Bears’ request to talk to and potentially trade for head coach Mike Tomlin, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Bears are searching for a new head coach following a disappointing 5-12 season that saw them fire former head coach Matt Eberflus in November.

Discussions never made it to Tomlin, nor is it likely they would have been successful even if they did, according to Schefter.

At least one other team contacted the Steelers to check into the idea of possibly trying to trade for Tomlin, only to be informed that the Steelers coach has a no-trade clause in his contract, a league source has told Schefter.

A few of Chicago’s completed head coaching interviews include interim head coach Thomas Brown, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Detroit Lions offensive and defensive coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, and former Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.

The Steelers are coming off a 10-7 campaign including a wild-card exit for the fourth time in five years.

Tomlin has been coaching Pittsburgh since the 2007 season and had two Super Bowl appearances and one win in his first four years on the job. He and the Steelers have not been to the conference championship game since the 2010 season. Tomlin holds a 183-107-2 regular-season record and an 8-11 playoff record as the Steelers coach.

The Steelers are known for their resolve when it comes to head coaches, who rarely fire and hire with low turnover. The team has had just three coaches since the 1969 season.