NBC Reportedly Opens Gig With 3 Steelers Now Named As Potential Replacements

The Pittsburgh Steelers no longer have Mike Tomlin steering the ship, but that doesn’t mean fans won’t get to hear from him. After Tomlin shockingly decided to walk away from coaching, he has been spotted enjoying life to the fullest. Steelers fans haven’t actually gotten much from Tomlin since he skipped a parting-ways press conference.

On Wednesday, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported that Hall of Famer Tony Dungy is likely out as a regular on Football Night in America after 17 seasons, as NBC plans to revamp its NFL pregame show, according to sources briefed on the move. The report suggests that the entire show is getting a fresh, new look, similar to what is happening with the Steelers now that Mike McCarthy is taking over, but not really. You get the pun.

Now it seems NBC could change its mind and still bring back Dungy, as he has not been officially informed of the changes yet. Marchand also noted that NBC declined to comment on the situation. With that being stated, Tomlin has become the number-one NFL TV studio target and could replace Dungy. Marchand offered more details on what might be holding Tomlin back from entering TV in 2026.

"While NBC wants to revamp, the pool of potential analysts could make it difficult to do it in one full swoop," Marchand said in his article. "The No. 1 NFL TV studio target, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, might be reluctant to enter TV, while Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce appears to want to play another year and has indicated he prefers to call games if he enters broadcasting."

Where Marchand’s writing really gets interesting for Pittsburgh fans is not the Tomlin part. Everyone knows Tomlin has long been a favorite to land a TV job whenever he decided to leave the Steelers. Now that he has officially walked away from coaching and is only 53 years old, it seems relatively obvious that if he is ready to enter TV, he will have his pick of any job he wants. 

The more interesting part involves Cam Heyward and Aaron Rodgers, who are mentioned in the report.

"Cam Heyward appeared on NBC’s Super Bowl pregame, but might not be done playing," Marchand said. "Kirk Cousins was on CBS’ postseason pregame, and though he is expected to be cut by the Atlanta Falcons, he could also stay on the field. A wild card is quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who also might play another year with the Steelers."

The Rodgers saga in Pittsburgh has officially begun once again, but the silver lining for fans is that General Manager Omar Khan does not anticipate it taking as long as it did in the 2025 offseason. He believes this because Rodgers has now played a full season in Pittsburgh and is comfortable with the team. The players loved him and really wanted him back.

Steelers Supporters May Get To See Cam Heyward On TV When He Retires

Rodgers remains a true wild card, which is how he is mentioned in the report, but Heyward’s inclusion is equally interesting. Though it says he may not be done playing, many NFL fans have been amazed by what Heyward accomplished in the 2024 and 2025 seasons while somehow defying Father Time. He is building a strong case for his ticket to the Hall of Fame in Canton.

It will be fascinating to see how both stories unfold. Rodgers’ return could shake up the Steelers in a big way, while Heyward’s continued dominance shows that Pittsburgh still has stars who can shape the team’s future for years to come.

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