The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season, and that streak continued on Monday night with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. Rumors had been swirling about longtime Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin possibly stepping down after the season, but it was hard for many to truly believe it.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Less than 24 hours after the Steelers’ 24-point loss at home in the Wild Card Round, Tomlin informed the team that he would be stepping down after 19 seasons leading Pittsburgh. Reports suggest that Tomlin may spend a year in television before deciding whether to return to NFL coaching. The Steelers still hold his rights, meaning he could potentially become a trade candidate for the team in the future.
NFL insider Josina Anderson also noted that both Tomlin and the recently fired former Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh are being considered as options for the Miami Dolphins. With Tomlin’s departure, the Steelers now face the challenge of finding a successor capable of leading the franchise back to playoff success.
"As a league source indicated to me over a week ago, and I'll tweet this now, don't let anyone tell you different: 'John Harbaugh & Mike Tomlin are at the top of the Miami Dolphins wish list at head coach,' a league source said again just now," Anderson said. "We'll see if the Dolphins can pull either off. It takes two to tango. 'There's a reason the Dolphins felt comfortable moving on from Mike McDaniel,' the source added. As it relates to Mike Tomlin, his sentiments have been known since I tweeted it back in November, and before. Don't be surprised to see either of these coaches net upwards of $20M/year. We'll see if Tomlin coaches next season, for sure."
This report adds some interesting nuances to the idea that Tomlin has a TV deal lined up and plans to take at least one season off from coaching in the NFL.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Aaron Rodgers embraces Head Coach Mike Tomlin after a big win on the road against the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL Season.
Anderson also shared additional intel from a league source about the type of weather Tomlin prefers if he returns to coaching in the 2026 season or beyond.
"League sources also have told me, 'Mike Tomlin has told people that he would prefer to coach in a warm-weather environment, if it fits.'"
That’s an interesting nugget, and it adds to the ongoing debate about where Tomlin’s head is at. If that insight from a respected league source is accurate, Tomlin may not be focused on TV at all; instead, he could be thinking about how to have his Andy Reid moment, like when Reid left the Philadelphia Eagles and turned the Kansas City Chiefs into a historic dynasty.
That could very well be Tomlin’s path, or he could take the Bill Cowher route and step away into the media space, potentially never returning to the NFL.
Steelers Likely Know Aaron Rodgers Is Gone For Good
The idea that Rodgers might return to the Steelers for the 2026 season started after they won in Dublin, Ireland, and Rodgers hinted that next year they might play there again or at least hoped they would. Later, reports indicated that the Steelers would be open to having him back.
Justin Guido / Post-Gazette
Steelers' QB Aaron Rodgers chats with Head Coach Mike Tomlin during a home game in Pittsburgh in the 2025 NFL season.
After the news that Tomlin is stepping down, it now seems highly unlikely that Rodgers will return to Pittsburgh if he decides to play another season. If he does not, his historic NFL career will end with a 30-6 playoff loss in Pittsburgh. One thing is certain: big changes have arrived in the Steel City and more are sure to come.
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