Mike Tomlin, the longtime Steelers coach, is right here in Seattle on Wednesday night for the first regular-season game of the 2026 NFL campaign. He just let slip two words to Cris Collinsworth that are going to send the whole league into a frenzy about his future.
“Never Say Never” Rings Loud
Tomlin’s exact words were, “Never say never.” Think about that for a second! While he made it clear that “it’s certainly not a 32-team league for me,” meaning he’s picky, he also admitted he loves to coach. He’s all about the challenges, the growth of young players, and that wild seven-day cycle of NFL football. But here’s the kicker: he’s also “enjoyed, man, the last six months life on this other side that I had no idea about.” This isn’t some casual dismissal. This is a guy weighing his options, and that “never say never” hangs heavy in the air. He’s got that undeniable passion for the game, but he’s also seen what life outside the grind looks like. It’s a real internal battle, and it just got put on blast.
The “Twitch” Is Finally Here
He’s in a prime spot to snag any coaching job he wants once that “coaching carousel” starts spinning, and trust me, it’s about to hit “top gear” after this 272nd game wraps up. Remember what he said just a month ago during the Hall of Fame game? He hadn’t thought about it much because he wasn’t “missing anything yet.” But he added, “when those regular-season balls start snapping, that’s when I’ll start, you know, getting a little twitch a little bit.” Guess what? He’s present when those balls start snapping right here in our Emerald City tonight! That twitch is gonna be real, and it’s going to shape the next wave of NFL leadership.
So, as we gear up for the start of the 2026 NFL season, all eyes might be on the field, but a lot of minds are gonna be on Mike Tomlin and his “never say never” stance. The league’s biggest coaching question just got a huge, intriguing twist, and it’s kicking off right here in Seattle. Let’s see what this season, and the looming coaching drama, brings us.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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