I felt the same with Cowher while they retooled the roster from the late 90s until 2001. He didn’t suddenly forget how to coach and then become a great one once again. It’s the same with Tomlin; he didn’t forget how to coach the past five seasons. I agree that the bar is set high in 2024, and I honestly expect him to reach it.I think it's a bit weak to basically excuse the HC for 5 straight years of failure.
But anyway, even assuming that you can let Tomlin off the hook for things like poor team talent (isn't it the coach's job to make the team better?), then you have to set the bar pretty high this year. The OL has been rebuilt with stud 1st round OTs, a 2nd round C, and big time free agent OGs. Tomlin got a veteran, Super Bowl winner at QB.
No more excuses. A playoff win or Tomlin must go. That's the only fair standard for 2024.
As for your last sentence: it’s not “a playoff with or Tomlin” must go in 2024, but I certainly feel like he needs to win a Super Bowl between now and the end of his extension. If not, as Chuck Noll would put it, it’s time to get on with his life’s work.