James Harrison Opens Up About Longstanding Rift with Mike Tomlin
James Harrison has never been one to mince words, and when it comes to his relationship with Mike Tomlin, the former Steelers linebacker continues to keep it brutally honest. In his latest appearance on the Deebo & Joe podcast, Harrison peeled back the curtain on the tension that’s simmered between him and his former head coach for years - and this time, he brought receipts.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Harrison, a franchise icon in Pittsburgh, ended his storied career not in black and gold, but in Patriots blue - a departure that still doesn’t sit well with some fans.
His exit from Pittsburgh in 2017 was contentious, with Harrison essentially forcing his way off the roster after expressing frustration over his role. The Steelers, for their part, decided to cut ties with the veteran defender, closing the chapter on a partnership that had once helped bring a Lombardi Trophy back to the Steel City.
Since then, Harrison hasn’t held back when discussing Tomlin. He’s questioned Tomlin’s coaching credentials, even going as far as to say he doesn’t believe Tomlin belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And on his podcast, he added more fuel to that fire.
According to Harrison, a particularly intense exchange with Tomlin took place back in 2018, sparked by comments Harrison made on Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless. Harrison had said that Bill Belichick was a better coach than Tomlin - a statement that apparently didn’t sit well with his former coach.
“Our relationship was business. It was just that - business,” Harrison said.
“The No. 1 thing I was taught by my parents is you never lie to me. Because if you lie to me, I can’t help you, and then I can’t trust you.”
Harrison claims the first time Tomlin lied to him was in 2010, but the more serious issue came in 2013 - when he says Tomlin lied about him. That, according to Harrison, was the breaking point. And by 2018, despite Tomlin’s public posture of tuning out criticism, Harrison says it was clear the coach had been paying attention.
“He was in his feelings because I said Belichick was a better coach,” Harrison explained. “He responded with something like, ‘[LaMarr] Woodley was a smarter player than you.’”
Then came the text messages - which Harrison says he still has saved on his phone. Reading directly from the exchange to co-host Joe Haden, Harrison shared Tomlin’s response:
“Wood was a smarter player than you, but I would never say that to anybody but you. I’m not with you for what you say.
I’m always with you because of your relationship with the game and what you were willing to do. Don’t act funny.
I will always be with you, no matter how f***ed up you are LOL.”
Harrison’s reply?
“If you wanted to tell the world that, I would not be upset. That’s your opinion and you’re entitled to it just like I am to mine.
No disrespect to it, it was just my honest answer to a question that was asked. Good luck Thursday, I’ll always be with you no matter how f***ed up you are.
100.”
It’s the kind of exchange that reveals a complicated relationship - one forged in the fire of NFL Sundays, but clearly strained by years of miscommunication and mistrust. And yet, despite all the friction, Harrison hasn’t completely shut the door on the Steelers.
In fact, he’s tried to return - this time, in a different role.
On Ben Roethlisberger’s Footbahlin podcast in December 2024, Harrison revealed that he had reached out to the Steelers with interest in coaching. But according to him, the response was... well, nonexistent.
“Let’s just say I put a feeler out there, but I got no response,” Harrison told Roethlisberger, before holding up his phone under the desk and adding, “Crickets after that.”
Roethlisberger, who shared plenty of battles with Harrison on the field, responded with a knowing look and a simple: “Yeah, of course.”
So where does that leave things? Harrison remains a beloved figure among many Steelers fans, a defensive force who helped define an era.
But his relationship with the organization - and with Tomlin in particular - appears far from repaired. For now, it’s a story of mutual respect tangled up in years of personal and professional friction.
And if Harrison’s recent comments are any indication, it’s a story that’s not quite finished.