Mike Tomlin is on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” broadcasts this season, and it’s the first time this century he isn’t spending his fall with an NFL team. He chose to walk away from the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of last season, capping off an incredible 19-year run as their head coach. Now, the big question isn’t about his TV commentary, it’s about when, not if, he’s back on the sidelines because a resume like his just doesn’t stay out of the game for long.
The “Other Side” of Life and An Untouchable Coaching Resume
Seriously, this guy is only 54 years old and what he accomplished in Pittsburgh is just absurd. He’s got a Super Bowl ring and, get this, *zero losing seasons*. Think about that for a second. Nineteen years, and not a single losing record. That’s a consistency almost unheard of in this league. So, yeah, when he stepped down, there was no shortage of teams wanting him. He’s probably having a blast right now, but you know that itch to coach has to be there. He’s still one of the most attractive candidates for any vacancy that pops up.
Cris Collinsworth, his new co-worker over at NBC, even pressed him on it recently. Collinsworth asked if there was a chance Tomlin would return to coaching, and Tomlin sounded exactly like what you’d expect from a guy who lives and breathes football but also just got a taste of something different. “Never say never,” he told Collinsworth, adding, “It’s certainly not a 32 team league for me.” But then he dropped the real truth: “I’ve also learned to never say never.” He loves coaching, loves the challenges, loves seeing young players grow, loves that seven-day cycle of preparation and measurement.
Why Tomlin’s Next Move Is The NFL’s Biggest Headache
But here’s the kicker: he’s also “enjoyed the last six months. Life on this other side that I had no idea about.” Tomlin has three children, all in their 20s. He literally coached football for their entire lives. He started way back in 1995 as a wide receivers coach at the Virginia Military Institute, was the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by 2001, and became the Steelers’ head coach in 2007. That’s a career commitment that essentially defined his family’s life. Hearing him talk about “life on this other side” should be a wake-up call for every coach out there who practically sleeps at the office.
It also means that even though he’s enjoying this break, he’s clearly got that competitive fire still burning. You can bet money that when things go south for some teams this year, and they start looking for a new coach ahead of the 2027 season, Tomlin’s name is going to be at the very top of *every* list. Get ready, NFL, because it sure sounds like Mike Tomlin isn’t done with the sidelines just yet.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply