NBC suggests that Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh Steelers could part ways and give him surprising new role

Could Mike Tomlin be out in Pittsburgh?

The longtime Steelers head coach has faced ongoing questions about his job security, a topic that has drawn attention this season and in recent years.

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NBC’s Mike Florio suggested that Tomlin might be making a move next season—not to another team, but into a role in the media.

Before the Baltimore Ravens and Steelers faced off for the AFC North title on Sunday Night Football, Florio weighed in on the future of the longtime coach.

“19 years for Mike Tomlin here in Pittsburgh,” Florio said on Football Night in America. “He’s never had a losing record. And it wasn’t that long ago that these same folks were chanting ‘Fire Tomlin.’

“Nobody expects the Steelers to fire Mike Tomlin, but, could this be the time that he makes a detour to a different industry? There’s a lot of steam about Tomlin maybe heading to TV.

“That’s going to be something to watch whenever the dust settles on this season, win or lose tonight.”

The hypothetical TV role will have to wait, as Tomlin and the Steelers edged out the Ravens in a thrilling 26–24 victory, clinching the AFC North and a date with the Houston Texans next Monday night.

Florio isn’t the first insider to hint that Tomlin could step away from coaching for a television role.

Over the past week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Peter Schrager have raised the same idea, with Schefter even suggesting that Ravens head coach John Harbaugh could consider a similar move.

Tomlin has long been seen as a natural fit for television, with his charismatic personality and distinctive charm perfectly suited for the broadcast booth.

If he ever chooses to make the switch, the timing could be ideal.

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Next season would mark his 20th year as Steelers head coach, during a period likely to be challenging for a team starting 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

While the Steelers have consistently been playoff contenders and have remarkably never posted a losing season under Tomlin, they haven’t reached 11 wins in a season since 2020 or won a playoff game since 2016.

It’s hard to fathom the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in a decade, yet that’s the reality.

It’s a reality the Rooney family may no longer be willing to accept, potentially prompting a change for the franchise and nudging Tomlin toward a new career path.

But for now, Tomlin and the Steelers are back in the playoffs.

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