Mike Tomlin Was Seriously Considering Other Opportunities Last Season
Report: Fox Sports analyst Jay Glazer ignited speculation late last season that Mike Tomlin might leave the Pittsburgh Steelers. Glazer even suggested that Tomlin could be traded to the Washington Commanders, citing Tomlin’s Virginia roots and his history of watching the Washington Redskins.
Given Glazer’s close friendship with Tomlin, the rumor seemed credible, especially since Tomlin was heading into the final year of his contract. However, the speculation did not pan out, as the Steelers confirmed shortly after the season that Tomlin would return. On Monday, the team announced a three-year contract extension with Tomlin, ensuring his stay in Pittsburgh through 2027.
Tomlin’s return to Pittsburgh is now secure, but Glazer wasn’t alone in hearing rumors about Tomlin’s potential departure. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk mentioned on PFT Live that Tomlin seriously considered other opportunities as he faced a lame duck year.
“This was toward the end of the season when the Steelers were struggling, and their offense was poor. It was very real that Tomlin was considering options both immediately and after the season,” Florio said. “For the first time in his tenure as Steelers head coach, he was entering what would have been a lame duck season, allowing him to think differently than ever before.”
The Steelers have only had three head coaches since 1969—Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin—making them the NFL franchise with the fewest head coaches during that period. The Rooneys highly value consistency and stability, and both the Steelers and Tomlin wanted him to stay. They successfully negotiated a deal, making Tomlin one of the highest-paid head coaches in the NFL.
“He wanted to be back in Pittsburgh,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said of Tomlin on KOA Sports with Big Al and JoJo on Monday. “It’s a great organization, and the familiarity is beneficial. His strong belief in the organization is mutual. He returns as one of the highest-paid coaches in NFL history, which reflects his value to the organization, and he was compensated well for that.”
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