The Pittsburgh Steelers took down the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 of the 2025 regular season to win the AFC North and clinch a spot in the postseason. This matchup was essentially a playoff game as the winner would be the four-seed in the AFC, while the loser's season would be over. Not making the postseason for either of these franchises is considered a major disappointment, and there was talk about the loser of this game firing their head coach. That is exactly what happened in Baltimore as news broke on Tuesday that the organization would be moving on from John Harbaugh after missing the playoffs.
Benjamin B. Braun / Post-Gazette
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and former Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh meet near midfield to shake hands after a professional football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
There were plenty of issues for Harbaugh in Baltimore. He didn't want to make any changes on his staff and the organization seemingly did not agree with that. It was also reported that the relationship between the coach and franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson was a little strained. Franchise quarterbacks are hard to come by, so any decision for the organization between those two would have been in favor of Jackson, and that is exactly what transpired. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin made an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday, and he was asked about Harbaugh's firing.
"First, I just have so much respect for Harbs," Tomlin said. "Our stories will forever be interwoven. This rivalry that we've been fortunate and honored enough to be a part of, I just got so much respect for him and how he's gone about his business, and we've certainly had some legendary battles over the years. In terms of him being let go, unfortunately I just think it's a component of today's sport culture. And so there've been many examples of that, and so it's unfortunate, but I'm sure that he is gonna move on. And if he chooses to coach again, I'm sure he will and I'm sure he'll be very successful in doing so."
Tomlin and Harbaugh have one of the most historic rivalries in the history of the NFL. There is only one head coaching duo that played against one another more in the history of the game, and that was George Halas of the Chicago Bears and Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers. Tomlin and Harbaugh's names are second on that list, which is a great piece of history for both parties.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin with former Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh before the two clash in Week 18 of the 2025 season.
Tomlin made sure to emphasize the respect he has for Harbaugh, and he knows if Harbaugh wants to coach somewhere in 2026 he will have the opportunity to do so. However, a year off might not be the worst thing in the world. The Steelers coach also spoke about how this is both a sports and entertainment industry, and this side of the business plays into entertainment. He spoke about how there is not as much patience when it comes to head coaches turning things around.
There is world where this situation is flipped. Had Pittsburgh lost in Week 18 and missed the playoffs, it could have been Tomlin becoming a free agent in the coaching world.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike Tomlin before a home game against the Green Bay Packers during the 2025 season.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Could Move On From Pittsburgh As Well
Now that the Steelers have made the postseason, it is very unlikely that Tomlin gets fired in the way that Harbaugh did, but it is reasonable to think that the head coach might step down or decide to part ways with the organization. It has been reported that he will have opportunities on the TV side of things, and he could join the media world. Tomlin is a big personality that is certainly attractive to that industry, and him wanting to move on at this stage of his career is not unfathomable.
What do you think about Tomlin's reaction to Harbaugh being fired? Let us know in the comments below!
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