Steelers fan Amanda Vance storms out of home opener, tells team to 'Fire Mike Tomlin' after loss to Seahawks
Former Dolphins cheerleader and social media influencer left Acrisure Stadium early following a 31-17 Week 2 defeat and a late, bizarre kickoff touchdown
Amanda Vance, a high-profile Pittsburgh Steelers fan and social media influencer, left Acrisure Stadium early Sunday and urged the team to fire head coach Mike Tomlin after the Steelers suffered a 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in their home opener.
The Seahawks pulled away in the fourth quarter, and a chaotic kickoff return that resulted in an unexpected touchdown sealed the victory late in the game. In a video posted as she exited the stadium with about three minutes remaining, Vance said, "I'm leaving early but so is everybody and I waited until three minutes left. Fire Mike Tomlin." Several other fans also left before the final whistle.
The decisive play came after a 54-yard field goal by Seattle's Jason Myers put the visitors ahead by three. The ensuing kickoff bounced near the goal line and eluded Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson, a third-round draft pick who had been tasked with return duty. Johnson misjudged the bounce and began moving toward the sideline thinking the play was dead. Seattle's George Holani tracked the loose ball down just before it rolled out of the end zone, resulting in a touchdown that gave the Seahawks a two-score lead.
"Poor judgment by a young player," Tomlin said of the error when asked about Johnson's mishandling of the kick. Tomlin did not directly address Vance's call to dismiss him.
The loss followed a promising opening game for Pittsburgh in the Aaron Rodgers era, when the team won its opener against the New York Jets. Sunday's result left the Steelers humbled in front of their home crowd and raised fresh scrutiny from some fans frustrated with the team's early-season performance.
Tomlin, 53, has been the Steelers' head coach since 2007 and carries a long record of regular-season success. Under his tenure, Pittsburgh has posted 18 consecutive non-losing seasons, including 15 winning campaigns and three .500 seasons. The franchise reached the playoffs 11 times with Tomlin on the sideline, capturing seven AFC North titles, two AFC championships and one Super Bowl, won in his second season. The team’s most recent postseason victory came in the 2017 AFC Divisional round.
Vance, a former Miami Dolphins cheerleader who has built a large online following, frequently appears at Steelers games and shares sports betting content with her audience. Her social-media presence drew attention last year when she disclosed a direct message exchange with quarterback Mason Rudolph. Vance has been a visible and vocal presence among Pittsburgh supporters and has increasingly used her platforms to comment on team performance.
The Seahawks improved to 1-1 with the win. The Steelers, who entered the game seeking consistency after Week 1, will look to regroup ahead of their next matchup. Tomlin and the coaching staff face the task of correcting special-teams lapses and limiting fourth-quarter breakdowns as the regular season continues.