Mike Tomlin’s next move is still an open question, but the conversation around where he could land if he chooses to coach again is already picking up steam.
That makes sense. Tomlin spent 2007-2025 building one of the steadiest résumés in the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers, going 193-114-2, winning a Super Bowl and reaching the playoffs 13 times. Even with quarterback issues hanging over the back half of his time in Pittsburgh, he never finished a regular season under .500.
Tomlin addressed the topic during Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game, when NBC had him in the booth and asked about what might come next. He’ll be part of the “Football Night in America” crew for the 2026 season.
When Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico asked whether he’d get the itch to coach again, Tomlin was candid: “I haven’t thought a whole lot about it yet, because I don’t feel like I’m missing anything yet,” Tomlin told Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico. “You know, when those regular-season balls start snapping, that’s when I’ll start, you know, getting a little twitch a little bit.”
If that twitch turns into something real, there are a few obvious fits.
The Cincinnati Bengals stand out first. They’ve got a superstar in Joe Burrow, but their defense has been a problem. Tomlin’s background dealing with shaky quarterback situations in Pittsburgh could make that pairing appealing, and the idea of him facing the Steelers twice a year adds another layer, even if it’s not clear he’d want that challenge.
The New York Jets belong in the mix too. Their lack of playoff appearances over the past two decades makes them a massive project, but that’s exactly why a proven winner like Tomlin would carry so much weight there. Turning that situation around would be no small feat.
Then there’s Tampa Bay. Tomlin already has a Super Bowl connection there, having worked as the Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach from 2001-2005. If the Buccaneers move on from Todd Bowles in the offseason, Tomlin would make a lot of sense.
In Other News...
Steelers Suddenly Have Real Doubt About Will Howards Backup Push
Will Howard came into Steelers training camp with a real chance to make the backup quarterback job interesting behind Aaron Rodgers, but the early returns have left the picture murkier. The rookie has shown enough to stay in the conversation, yet the separation many expected has not really arrived, and the competition has started to tilt toward a more familiar face as Pittsburgh keeps sorting out the depth chart.
Mason Rudolph has quietly made himself look like the steadier option for QB2, which raises the pressure on Howard as the preseason schedule starts to matter more. His next chance to change the narrative comes against Green Bay, where the Steelers will be watching closely for cleaner work on the throws that have been giving him trouble and for signs that he can force the decision a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Camp Just Raised A Real Question About Their QB Depth
The offense at Saint Vincent College has shown some signs of settling in during recent camp work, which is at least a step in the right direction for a Steelers unit still trying to find more consistency. The line has had its own encouraging moment too, with Anderson continuing to build a case for the starting right guard job and keeping that competition alive as camp moves along.
The bigger concern, though, is what the quarterback room looks like behind the top options. A rookie has had trouble with decision-making and accuracy, and when those issues show up in camp they tend to sharpen the focus on depth and development in a hurry. Pittsburgh has time to sort through it, but these sessions have made it clear the backup picture is worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Just Put Kaleb Johnson Back In A Real Roster Fight
The Steelers first offseason depth chart offered an early glimpse at how the backfield is shaping up, and it put Kaleb Johnson in a spot that should at least keep him in the conversation. After a rough rookie season, Johnson is listed as the third running back, which suggests Pittsburgh is willing to let him compete rather than bury him behind the newer faces in camp. For a player trying to reset his trajectory, thats not nothing.
Training camp and the preseason will decide whether that listing means real trust or just temporary patience. Johnson has work to do, but the fact that hes ahead of some additions gives him a fighting chance to stick on the roster. In a room where every carry can matter, the next few weeks will tell whether Pittsburgh sees enough to keep investing in him. [Read more 🡒]