Mike Tomlin isn’t lining up a comeback right now, but he also isn’t shutting the door on one.
The former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach said during a conference call with NBC correspondents ahead of Sunday night’s Week 10 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals that coaching is not on his mind at the moment. Tomlin will be at the game as part of NBC’s “Football Night in America” crew, and when asked about a possible return to the sideline, he made it clear he hasn’t spent any time mapping that out.
“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’s run in Pittsburgh ended after the 2025 campaign, and his résumé already looks like one that will land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Over 19 seasons with the Steelers, he never finished with a losing record and went 193-114-2 in the regular season.
The postseason finish was rough, with Pittsburgh losing seven straight playoff games under Tomlin to close out his tenure. Still, that doesn’t erase the high points, especially Super Bowl XLIII in 2008 and seven more playoff wins across 13 trips to the postseason.
Tomlin is tied with Chuck Noll for the ninth-most head coaching wins in NFL history, a place that keeps his name in rare company no matter what comes next.
If he does eventually decide to coach again in 2027, 2028 or later, there’s also a business side to watch. It’s unclear whether the Steelers would be able to trade his rights and get compensation back, though the New Orleans Saints did something similar with Sean Payton after the 2021 season before he was hired by the Denver Broncos in 2023.
If Pittsburgh still holds Tomlin’s contractual rights, the return could be significant - potentially even a first-round pick, or more - for whichever team lands him. That kind of haul would matter for a Steelers team that could use help in its search for a franchise quarterback.
And if Tomlin’s next job is in the AFC, the Steelers could end up seeing him often, which would add another layer to any coaching return.
In Other News...
Jeffery Simmons Opens Up About Titans Move That Still Stings
Jeffery Simmons did not hide how much the move still lingers after Tennessee sent him to Chicago on Oct. 29 for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, the former Titans star said he was surprised by the trade, but also made clear he understood the business side of it and respected the decision.
For Tennessee, the deal was as much about draft capital as it was about parting with one of the leagues most disruptive interior defenders. Simmons has wasted little time making an impact with the Bears, recording sacks in each of his first two games and leading all interior defensive linemen in sacks through Week 9, a reminder of exactly what the Titans gave up when they made the move. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face A Big Question About Their Top Receiver Pick
The Titans used the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receiver Carnell Tate, then moved back into the first round to grab Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk, making it clear they wanted to leave the opening night of the draft with premium talent at premium spots. It was the kind of aggressive approach that can reshape a roster quickly, and it also put a spotlight on how Tennessee plans to build around its newest offensive centerpiece.
Tates arrival brings immediate intrigue because the conversation around him is not just about draft value, but about fit and what his early production could look like in Tennessees offense. The Titans also added other pieces in the class, and the comparisons being drawn to other rookie receiver starts only sharpen the scrutiny on whether Tate can justify being the headliner of the group. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Season Just Became A High-Stakes Draft Position Race
The Titans season has shifted into something bigger than wins and losses, with the trade deadline turning the rest of the year into a long look ahead. By moving defensive standouts Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker for multiple draft picks in 2027 and 2028, Tennessee made its intentions clear: the future matters more than salvaging a lost present, and the draft board is now part of every conversation around this team.
At 1-7, the Titans are already positioned for a premium selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, with the kind of draft capital that can reshape a roster if the front office plays it right. The intriguing part is where that pick could land and who might be available, including wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, even if receiver is not the clearest hole on the roster. For Tennessee, the real suspense is no longer about this seasons standings, but how high the draft race can carry them and what they do with the opportunity when it arrives. [Read more 🡒]