Mike Tomlin faces career change decision that could threaten Bill Cowher’s spot in Steelers history

Mike Tomlin’s primary focus is on beating the Houston Texans.

If the Pittsburgh Steelers win their AFC Wild Card game on Sunday night, Tomlin will advance in the playoffs and quiet the rumors surrounding his name for another week.

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But the moment the Steelers’ season ends — against the Texans or in Super Bowl LX — the questions about Tomlin’s future will return.

Career change could be calling for Tomlin

He’s the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL, earning that honor after Bill Belichick was fired by the New England Patriots.

Tomlin’s 19-year run with Pittsburgh became even more impressive this week, after the Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh and ended his 18-year association with the franchise.

Yet Steelers fans have been expressing frustration with Tomlin’s coaching style for years, and there could be a career change looming the second that the Steelers’ 2025 season ends.

“Mike Tomlin’s not getting fired,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported.

“I would imagine, he would take a real break. Go do what Sean Payton did. Go work in TV. Try his hand at what we do. Learn how to put makeup on. It’s actually not that hard. It’s more daunting then you think, and he would probably do TV for a little bit. No indication that’s coming right now.”

Former Steelers coach and Super Bowl-winner Bill Cowher left the team for TV in 2007 and has never looked back.

Cowher has worked for CBS for almost two decades, despite often being linked with NFL head coaching vacancies.

Easy transition for Tomlin from NFL to TV

Tomlin is 193-114-2 during his career and won Super Bowl XLIII, two years after Cowher left the Steelers.

If Tomlin made the leap to TV, he could either become a lead game analyst (Tom Brady, Tony Romo) or a weekly studio analyst (Matt Ryan, Cowher).

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talkSPORT reacts ... Tomlin needs a win

It’s a funny world when barely making the postseason is supposed to keep Mike Tomlin safe.

He hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016.

Which means that if the Steelers fall to the Texans on Sunday, Pittsburgh fans will be screaming ‘Fire Mike Tomlin’ again.

There’s no doubt that Tomlin is a Hall of Fame coach who would be perfect on TVs across the globe.

But is he an elite coach in 2025 with Aaron Rodgers as his QB?

These playoffs will prove that, one way or the other.

Tomlin risked it all on Rodgers this year, and Steelers fans were already divided on his coaching future.

TV will be his best option if the Steelers fail to get out of the Wild Card round again.

Brian T. Smith, Senior US Sports Reporter

Initial estimates pegged Tomlin’s potential TV salary in the $7 million range.

Brady signed a massive 10-year, $375 million deal with FOX after leaving the NFL, while Romo reset the market by averaging $18m a year.

Tomlin currently makes $17m a season with the Steelers.

Steelers could have two TV coaches

“Tomlin would be excellent on TV,” one fan tweeted.

“Let’s hope so! Tomlin and the Steelers need a fresh start,” a second fan posted.

“Mike Tomlin has NEVER been in the ‘hot seat.’ Not once,” a third fan wrote. “And he’s never going to be. He will only leave on his own terms.”

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“Fire him win or lose!” a fourth fan posted.

Tomlin bet heavily on Aaron Rodgers as the Steelers’ new QB last offseason.

Entering Wild Card weekend, Pittsburgh is back in the playoffs — the Steelers reached the first round last year with Russell Wilson — and hosting the Texans after winning the AFC North by defeating the Ravens on the final play of the 2025 regular season.

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