The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked a lot of people when the organization hired head coach, Mike Tomlin back in 2007. The easy choice was in-house offensive coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt, but he accepted the head coaching job with the Arizona Cardinals. That paired with Tomlin's interview blowing away the hiring unit in Pittsburgh led to him getting the role. Tomlin is known as a players' coach and motivator. But, Steelers fans can learn more about the team's leader and his character based on what he did for a couple of local kids during this year's training camp.
UPDATE: In what is an apparent update to the story, Christy Houston Porter posted on Twitter that Glazer's story is incorrect. That Tomlin knew these kids, but not because they were fighting in the street.
Oh man…..this is interesting. pic.twitter.com/IF5165if51
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) August 19, 2022
Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin at 2022 training camp in Latrobe, PA. |Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Jay Glazer, an insider for Fox Sports, attended camp in Latrobe on Thursday and told a heart-warming story of the veteran coach springing into action when he witnessed some kids fighting as he was driving in his car. Glazer tweeted:
"Mike Tomlin was driving in his car when he saw these kids fighting in the street. Tomlin pulls over and the kids, in obvious shock at who stepped out of the car, stopped fighting."
He didn't stop there, however. According to Glazer, Tomlin spent a lot of time with the kids and yesterday, invited them to training camp. This went completely undetected by media members and Glazer is the first one to highlight the efforts from the Steelers head coach. The best part for the children wasn't just showing up and being guests at the practice, but actually running drills.
Best thing/story I’ve seen so far on my camp tour. A little backstory. @CoachTomlin was driving in his car when he saw these kids fighting in the street. Tomlin pulls over and the kids, in obvious shock at who stepped out of the car, stopped fighting. (Read full story below) pic.twitter.com/08pFlZTtfx
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) August 18, 2022
The unit was able to do some ladders and run around with starting running back, Najee Harris, who is just getting back to a full workload after a minor left foot injury. These are moments that are not soon to be forgotten by the young group of football players. Not only did one of the faces of the organization hop out of his car to intervene in their potential brawl, but one of the most promising young players in the NFL was running around with them shortly after.
Steelers Running Back, Najee Harris at training camp in Latrobe, PA | Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (@JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
The gesture from Tomlin to not just pull over and halt a fight, but bring the kids together during training camp to enjoy an awesome experience is extremely commendable. He easily could have driven by, as many people probably had and let the group fight it out.
What do you make of Tomlin's efforts to stop the fighting from the local group of kids and invite them to training camp? Let us know in the comments below!
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