Mike Tomlin has embodied the steadiness created by routine and transparency all through his 19 seasons because the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. It has endeared him to lots of of gamers and saved him entrenched in a corporation that mirrors the values of its coach.
That stability has come to an finish as Tomlin is stepping down with two years left on his contract, sources instructed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter on Monday afternoon.
Tomlin, 53, knowledgeable gamers Tuesday of his resolution to stroll away at a 2 p.m. ET assembly, a day after falling to the Houston Texans 30-6 within the wild-card spherical of the AFC playoffs, extending the crew’s playoff win drought to 9 seasons.
He leaves Pittsburgh with the unprecedented accomplishment of by no means having a dropping season in almost twenty years on the helm of the franchise. He clinched his two hundredth profession NFL victory in Week 16 in opposition to the Detroit Lions and tied Chuck Noll for ninth all time with 193 regular-season wins in a Week 18 victory in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens that clinched the AFC North title.
With Tomlin’s departure, the Steelers will start the seek for simply their fourth head coach since 1969. Earlier than his resignation, Tomlin was the longest-tenured head coach of any North American skilled sports activities franchise, having taken the Steelers job in 2007. He finishes his profession in Pittsburgh with 193 regular-season wins, 114 losses and two ties.
Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor and NFL reporters Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano reply the urgent questions within the wake of Tomlin’s departure.
How a lot of a shock is the information of Mike Tomlin’s departure?
Although there had been rumblings that Tomlin may stroll away, probably to pursue alternatives in tv, his announcement and resolution coming to fruition was nonetheless a shock to many within the Steelers’ constructing. Tomlin’s Tuesday began because it usually did in the course of the common season, with an early-morning arrival and a scheduled 2 p.m. crew assembly. Gamers had been within the locker room cleansing out their lockers following Monday’s wild-card loss. Earlier than Tomlin’s assembly, there did not look like any indication that the gamers contained in the locker room knew massive information was coming. Lower than 24 hours earlier, each Cameron Heyward and Aaron Rodgers had stumped for his or her head coach’s job.
And within the locker room Tuesday afternoon, tight finish Jonnu Smith mentioned he could not think about the Steelers with out Tomlin.
“Ever since my childhood rising up, it was Mike Tomlin, Mike Tomlin, Mike Tomlin, Mike Tomlin, and successful,” he mentioned. “And successful and successful. And the tradition that the town has established football-wise primarily based round what Mike Tomlin has accomplished, the tradition that he is constructed, the way in which he is constructed this crew, the way in which he is handled individuals within the constructing, the way in which he is cared about this group a lot, and has embodied the true which means of a Pittsburgh Steeler.” — Pryor
Who may the Steelers goal at head coach, and the way does Pittsburgh’s tendency to maintain coaches for many years issue into this resolution?
That is an all-hands-on-deck, drop-everything job for any and all candidates. The Steelers have had three head coaches since 1969, uncanny stability for the trendy period. The championship custom, coupled with the possibility for actual tenure, will make Pittsburgh’s the very best job obtainable. The Steelers will prioritize management, more than likely, and as they did with Tomlin, they may establish a rising star within the enterprise.
A number of defensive coordinators — the Los Angeles Rams’ Chris Shula, the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ Jeff Hafley and the Los Angeles Chargers’ Jesse Minter — appear to suit that mildew. Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman has rebuffed NFL intrigue however may revisit that for a job like this. The Steelers can be sensible to modernize the offense, wanting arduous at that facet of the ball, so a number of younger offensive playcallers may come into play. — Fowler
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Alex Smith lauds ‘considered one of a sort’ Aaron Rodgers
Alex Smith lauds ‘considered one of a sort’ Aaron Rodgers Alex Smith joins the “The Wealthy Eisen Present” to debate Aaron Rodgers’ profession after the Steelers’ wild-card loss to the Texans.
What does the long run maintain for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ QB place?
Rodgers’ one-year deal expired with Monday’s wild-card loss, however he just lately expressed that he hadn’t considered what was subsequent for him. After posting a playoff career-low of 14.3 QBR in Monday night time’s loss to Houston, Rodgers mentioned he wasn’t going to make an “emotional” resolution about his future. In June, he instructed “The Pat McAfee Present” that he was “fairly certain” 2025 can be his final season.
If that’s certainly the case, the Steelers can be out there for his or her subsequent beginning quarterback. Mason Rudolph is beneath contract for an additional yr, and the crew additionally chosen former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard within the sixth spherical of the 2025 draft. The Steelers have been doing their homework on the 2026 quarterback draft class, however with a choose at No. 21, they don’t seem to be more likely to land one of many few top-tier rookie signal-callers until they use draft capital to maneuver up.
Like final yr, Pittsburgh will undoubtedly host a lot of quarterbacks on predraft visits to do their due diligence, nevertheless it appears extra seemingly the Steelers would search for one other cheap bridge quarterback choice to get them to a stronger 2027 draft class. — Pryor
What’s subsequent for Tomlin?
On some degree, no matter he desires (apart from teaching the Steelers). He’ll seemingly draw curiosity from a number of TV networks for quite a lot of doable roles if he desires to take a while off from teaching, with the potential to return later. He’ll additionally certainly draw curiosity from groups that want a head coach, since loads of these entrance places of work are searching for coaches who’ve NFL head teaching expertise; nobody on the present market besides John Harbaugh has wherever near as a lot of that as he does.
Tomlin’s entry into the teaching free agent market is certain to change groups’ plans and interview schedules, and if he desires to leap proper into one other head teaching job, he’ll have his choose. — Graziano
How does the 2025 season have an effect on Tomlin’s legacy?
Tomlin’s last season was a microcosm of his 19-year tenure on the helm of the Steelers. There have been unimaginable highs and unbelievable wins coupled with inconceivable lows and befuddling losses. In the end, the 10-7 last season was like so many earlier than — ok to achieve the postseason, however not ok to make a run and recapture the magic of his early years. The Tomlin period in Pittsburgh can be remembered for near-instant success and an unprecedented streak of non-losing seasons as the pinnacle coach raised the ground of his squad each single season by being a clear chief and a gamers’ coach.
“Clearly, he is the autumn man, proper? You have a look at this case and also you mentioned, ‘OK, we went down. Who’s the chief?’ They are going to take a look at the chief. And for us, that is Mike Tomlin. However we had a hell of a frontrunner, an awesome chief, a person that’s able to main us to finally the final word aim. And he is accomplished it. He is very able to doing it. Like I mentioned earlier than, we simply got here up brief,” Smith mentioned on Monday. — Pryor