Steelers Ex-Lineman Blasted By Chad Ochocinco For Recent Comments: 'I Know Willie Parker, I Don't Know No God**** Willie Colon'

The Pittsburgh Steelers, under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, have failed to win a playoff game since the 2016. Tomlin is often heralded for having "no losing seasons" during the 17 he's been with the Steelers, but that narrative seems to have worn thin.

Tomlin was recently criticized by one of his former players, which is rare. Willie Colon, who played offensive guard for the Steelers from 2006-2012 and spent most of his professional career playing under Tomlin, said he believes his former head coach is on the hot seat. Colon now appears on The Carton Show, and it was there that he made the derogatory comments. 

Colon said that Tomin has had some great teams, especially under former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and yet his playoff record is only 8-10. He added that when you lose to teams like the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, you're a "dweeb." 

Now Tomlin is receiving some support from a shocking source, former rival, Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, the wide receiver from the Cincinnati Bengals who gave the Steelers defense fits for about a decade. Johnson now co-hosts a podcast called Nightcap with Hall of Fame tight end, Shannon Sharpe. On a recent episode, Sharpe read the comments Colon made to Johnson. Johnson was far from impressed. 

"The only Willie Colon I know is a Spanish singer, so let's start there," said Johnson. "So I'm trying to understand Mr. Willie Colon, why his words and how he feels and what he's saying holds any weight."

Johnson said that he understands that the whole point of playing professional football is to win Lombardi Trophies, but he thinks Tomlin deserves some grace. He said he hasn't had a quarterback because he believes Roethlisberger was on the tail end of his career for his last several seasons. He noted that the team had failures with Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph after that.

It isn't easy to win games in the NFL, said Johnson. Most fans don't understand how hard it is and how many factors there are, but the top one is that you must have a strong quarterback. According to Johnson, that is how they get back to being that winning franchise they are known to be historically. That would make the firing of Tomlin ridiculous. They still wouldn't have a quarterback, and now they wouldn't have a head coach either. 

Sharpe said that from his perspective, these comments matter when a "prominent player" makes them. When well-known players speak ill of their team or coach, people listen. He said, for example, that if Johnson were to make those comments, people would listen, but Johnson said he would never handle it this way. Both players agree that they might be critical in general about decisions the team makes or how a season is going, but not targeted comments. Johnson is still confused about who Colon is; Sharpe, now exasperated, said, "He played when you played!"

"I don't even know who that is, so what does that tell you? Tell Willie go sit down somewhere. I know Willie Parker, I don't know no godd*** Willie Colon. His name don't hold no godd*** weight. Listen, I'm a Bengals fan at heart, taking up for the Steelers organization because I don't know who the h*** Willie Colon is with this bull**** he talking about," ranted Johnson.

Johnson went on to explain why placing Tomlin on the hot seat makes no sense. Football is not a stagnant business. Even when teams win Super Bowls, they still look to make their next roster better than the last. 

Johnson likes the decision to bring in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields and sees them working well with the upgraded offensive line. While the Steelers may not have won any recent playoff games, they are choosing to work to improve the team, rather than standing by players as they have done in the past. 

Steelers Considered Super Bowl Contenders

There will always be fans out there complaining about Tomlin, fans who weren't satisfied with his two Super Bowl appearances when they happened. It's not uncommon; it happens in every fan base and every team. Only one team can hoist the Lombardi each year, and the other 31 teams' fans are disappointed.