Mike Tomlin explains Pittsburgh Steelers exit and joins NBC as analyst
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has revealed that a lack of recent playoff success influenced his February resignation, as he confirmed a new broadcasting role with NBC.
The respected coach departed the franchise earlier this year after a highly successful tenure that had recently stalled in the postseason.
Speaking to Maria Taylor in his first interview since stepping down, the veteran play-caller admitted that his experienced roster needed a fresh voice in the locker room.
“I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you,” Tomlin stated.
“We didn’t have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years.”
The historic Pennsylvania franchise has notably failed to secure a postseason victory since the 2016 campaign.
Transition to broadcasting
Following his departure from the sidelines, the former Super Bowl-winning boss has officially joined NBC as a football analyst.
He will feature on the network’s Sunday night pregame programme, which is set to broadcast on location at various stadiums throughout the upcoming NFL season.
“I just thought it’d be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it,” he explained.
The new television pundit acknowledged feeling some natural apprehension about his career change, but described the discomfort as a positive catalyst for growth.
Rodgers predicted to stay
In his first public piece of analysis, the NBC contributor weighed in on the future of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, who spent the past 12 months working closely with the former Pittsburgh boss, has yet to formally confirm his playing status for the upcoming season.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the experienced signal-caller, his former coach remains confident he will be the team’s quarterback in 2026.
“Man, if you got a gun to my head, I’d say it’s AR,” he said regarding the starting position.
“He’s got a love affair with the game of football and not only the game, but the process, the informal moments, the development of younger guys.”
Reflecting on his transition away from coaching, the newly appointed studio analyst noted that he recently experienced his first NFL draft as a spectator rather than a decision-maker.
