Mike Tomlin isn’t rushing toward a comeback, but he isn’t shutting the door, either.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach said during a conference call with NBC correspondents before Sunday night’s Week 10 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals that coaching is not on his mind right now. Tomlin will be in attendance for the game as part of NBC’s “Football Night in America” crew, and when asked about a return to the sideline, he made it clear he’s not there yet.
“I haven’t given one iota of thought to coaching,” Tomlin said. “I’m sure some of that is going to come up in the not-so-distant future. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.”
Tomlin stepped down after the 2025 campaign, closing out a 19-year run in Pittsburgh that left him with a resume strong enough to put him on a clear Hall of Fame track. He never finished a season with a losing record, piling up a 193-114-2 regular-season mark.
The postseason ending was rough. Pittsburgh dropped seven straight playoff games under Tomlin to finish his Steelers tenure, but that doesn’t erase the championship work he did in black and gold. He won Super Bowl XLIII in 2008 and added seven more playoff wins across 13 trips to the postseason.
Tomlin’s 193 career victories leave him tied with Chuck Noll for the ninth-most head coaching wins in NFL history, a place that keeps his name among the game’s heavyweights whether he coaches again or not.
If he ever does decide to jump back in, the Steelers could face an interesting question about what happens next. There’s uncertainty around whether Pittsburgh would be able to trade his rights and get something back in return.
The Saints pulled that off with Sean Payton after he stepped away following the 2021 season and later landed with the Denver Broncos in 2023, but it’s not clear whether the Steelers would be able to do the same.
If Pittsburgh still holds Tomlin’s contractual rights, a future hiring could potentially bring back a first-round pick or more, a haul that would help the organization in its search for a franchise quarterback.
And even if no trade materializes, Tomlin’s next stop would still matter to the Steelers if he lands in the AFC and ends up on their schedule with some regularity.
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The Houston Texans are among the teams that could feel the effects most directly, and game officials could face similar problems reaching their destinations on time. Even when the football itself stays on schedule, disruptions like this can complicate preparation, alter routines and add an extra layer of uncertainty to a weekend that already has enough to manage. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Have A New Week 10 Problem Against Houston
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It is another reminder of how quickly the margins can change in November, especially for a Browns offense that has already had to adjust around injuries and roster churn. Houston, meanwhile, is dealing with its own availability issues, ruling out running back David Montgomery and cornerback Jaylin Smith while making several roster activations and elevations, so both teams are heading into Week 10 with a few moving parts still to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Rookie May Be Changing A Problem Spot Faster Than Expected
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Head coach Todd Monken pointed to Fanos mental toughness and his ability to adapt while learning left tackle in the NFL, two traits that matter as much as raw talent in a room that has needed both. Fano has already climbed to 17th out of 71 offensive tackles in overall Pro Football Focus grade, and with the Browns preparing for the Houston Texans, the expectation is that he keeps trending upward as the workload and the spotlight get bigger. [Read more 🡒]