Mike Tomlin’s name is already circulating well ahead of the next coaching cycle, and now Josina Anderson says there’s an ownership family in the NFC watching closely.
Anderson reported that this group could make a run at the former Steelers head coach after the season if its current coach can’t get things turned around and push the team into the playoffs. She also said league sources believe Tomlin could be drawn to the right opportunity if the money is right and he’s given the kind of control he’s accustomed to.
Even with that buzz building, Anderson made one thing clear: Tomlin is the only one who knows when, where, or even if he plans to coach again.
That uncertainty hasn’t stopped the speculation. Tomlin is widely expected to be the top name in the upcoming coaching cycle, and he should have no shortage of interest. He hasn’t tipped his hand publicly, but he hasn’t shut the door either.
“It’s certainly not a 32-team league for me, but I’ve also learned to never say never,” Tomlin said. “I love to coach.
I love all the challenges of the profession. I love to be a part of growth and development of young people individually.
I love the measurement of the seven-day cycle, but also have enjoyed, man, the last six months life on this other side that I had no idea about.”
Tomlin, 54, spent his entire Steelers tenure as one of the NFL’s most durable and successful coaches. Pittsburgh hired him in 2007, and he delivered a Super Bowl in just his second season. The Steelers reached two Super Bowls under Tomlin and won one of them.
His resume is hard to miss: no losing seasons in the NFL, 13 playoff appearances in 19 seasons, and a career record of 193-114-2 (.628). His playoff record stands at 8-12.
Earlier this offseason, there was also reporting that the Jets had done preliminary work on Tomlin for 2027, though Tony Pauline said it would take a “king’s ransom” to land him for that job.
Tomlin resigned following the 2025 season, and for now, the league is left waiting to see whether one of the sport’s most accomplished coaches wants back in.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Face A Very Different Quarterback Test In Week 6
The quarterback picture in Tampa Bay has shifted again, and it changes the feel of what the Steelers are getting ready for in Week 6. Baker Mayfield will miss another game because of a dislocated thumb, leaving Pittsburgh to prepare for an undrafted rookie who has already spent the last two weeks learning on the fly while handling the offense.
Jalon Daniels has thrown for 337 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions so far, and the challenge for the Steelers is less about a familiar veteran script and more about discipline. Pittsburgh is stressing pass rush lanes to keep Daniels from escaping the pocket and to limit what he can do with both his mobility and arm strength, which makes this matchup a different kind of test than the one it expected earlier in the week. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Rodgers Is Giving Steelers Fans A Real MVP Debate
Aaron Rodgers has already spent enough of his career in the MVP conversation to make almost any new twist feel familiar, but the discussion around him in Pittsburgh is starting to pick up real steam again. The veteran quarterback, now with the Steelers, has four MVP awards on his resume, and the way he has been throwing the ball lately is enough to pull old memories back into view for fans who remember his peak years.
Former defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora was willing to say the quiet part out loud by putting Rodgers back in the MVP mix, a projection that inevitably brings 2021 to mind. It is still just a forecast, not a conclusion, but Rodgers has given the Steelers something to think about beyond simple competence at quarterback, and that alone can turn a routine stretch of games into a much bigger debate. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Suddenly Have A Rico Dowdle Decision To Make
Rico Dowdles status has become a quiet but important subplot for the Steelers as they head deeper into the fall. The running back has missed three games with a toe injury, though he was close to getting back on the field in Week 5 and could be in line to return in Week 6, which only adds to the sense that Pittsburgh is nearing a decision point on a player it views as a key backup in the backfield.
The bigger question is whether the Steelers treat Dowdle as part of the long-term plan or as a piece that could draw outside interest before the November 10 deadline. He is under contract through 2027, so Pittsburgh has every reason to hold onto him unless the season starts to veer off course and the teams playoff outlook changes in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]