Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been likened to Osama bin Laden by one of his players in a shocking post on social media.
Five days out from their Week 7 game at the New York Jets, Steelers safety DeShon Elliott has sparked outrage by sharing a meme of Tomlin’s face photoshopped on the head of Bin Laden.
The Instagram post – which appeared to be liked by quarterback Justin Fields amid reports that he will be benched for Sunday’s trip to New York – also included the caption: ‘osama bin tomlin’.
Fans were left stunned by Elliott sharing the meme, with some suggesting it was a dig at Tomlin ahead of his rumored decision to start Russell Wilson over Fields at quarterback this weekend.
Others believe it was a more sinister reference to Sunday’s game in New York, against the Jets, just over 23 years on from the 9/11 terrorist attacks orchestrated by Bin Laden and al-Qaeda.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has been likened to Osama bin Laden by one of his players
Steelers safety DeShon Elliott shared this meme of Tomlin’s face on the head of Bin Laden
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One wrote on X about Elliott’s post: ‘What the hell’.
Another predicted: ‘Tomlin not gonna stand for this one unfortunately’.
A third refused to believe it and said: ‘there is no way he did this’.
‘Oh he’s so f*****g done,’ a fourth posted.
A fifth commented: ‘That’s not funny….’
Before another user replied to them: ‘Especially not because it’s the Jets….. and NEW YORK still hurts.’
Elliott has played in all six of the Steelers’ games this season, recording one interception and 27 solo tackles.
It remains to be seen what his intention behind sharing the meme was, and how Tomlin will react ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Earlier this week the Pittsburgh coach’s radical change at quarterback was revealed as they prepare to make the trip to New York.
He also included this caption on Instagram to spark outrage and confusion amongst fans
Elliott has played in all six of the Steelers’ games so far this season, recording 27 solo tackles
Some think his ‘Osama bin Tomlin’ meme was about the rumored decision to drop Justin Fields
Tomlin will reportedly give Wilson, 35, a shot against the 2-4 Jets as the veteran nears his comeback from injury, according to Tom Pelissero.
The Steelers intend to give the veteran first-team reps in practice this week, lining up a potential season debut and start this weekend, the report added.
Wilson is yet to line up in a competitive game for the Steelers seven months after signing a one-year contract in Pittsburgh for the veteran’s minimum of $1.2million.
