Mike Tomlin believes the Pittsburgh Steelers can win the Super Bowl in their first season without him at the helm. That’s right, the guy who coached them for two decades, the longest-reigning head coach in major American sports, just dropped that bombshell on The Rich Eisen Show, and he didn’t hold back on why he thinks it’s possible.
The Tomlin Era Is Over, But The Voice Still Rings Out
It’s still wild to think about, but the Steelers kicked off this season without Mike Tomlin on the sidelines for the first time in twenty years. He stepped down in January, right after that tough 30-6 wild card loss to the Houston Texans. Mike McCarthy took over the reins, and Tomlin moved into the analyst booth, joining the crew for NBC Sports’ Football Night in America. So he’s still deeply ingrained in the NFL world, watching every snap, dissecting every play, just from a different angle now. And his insights are clearly still sharp.
Why Tomlin Thinks Pittsburgh Can Win It All
When Eisen pressed him on whether he thinks his old team has a shot at the Super Bowl this year, Tomlin was emphatic. “I certainly do,” he said. And he credits one guy big time: Aaron Rodgers. Tomlin genuinely believes Rodgers wouldn’t have even come back if he didn’t see a clear path to a championship. “He believes it, I believe it. I don’t think he comes back if he doesn’t believe that.” That’s a huge vote of confidence, not just in the team, but in Rodgers’ conviction. Tomlin also pointed to the team’s core, saying they’ve got “the bones of having a good unit at all three phases.” He sees them as having high expectations, and frankly, he thinks they should. The fact that other teams might not be talking about them as much? Tomlin sees that as a “good motivator and a catalyst for them as well.” It’s classic Tomlin, always finding that edge.
The stakes are gonna be wild in Week 13 when Tomlin makes his return to Pittsburgh, this time as an analyst. The Steelers are hosting the Texans for Sunday Night Football. You know he’ll have something to say about that matchup, especially after how their last game went down. Get ready, that’s gonna be appointment television!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
Leave a Reply