Mike Tomlin decides on coaching future for 2026 NFL season: report
Mike Tomlin announced his decision to step away from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, ending his 19-year run as the organization’s head coach.
Immediately following this NFL-shaking announcement, Tomlin emerged as a top head coaching candidate for prospective teams around the league.
Tomlin received calls from multiple NFL teams expressing interest in the hours following his decision to step away from the Steelers, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Each of these teams were told that Tomlin does not have plans to coach in 2026. Pittsburgh still maintains Tomlin’s rights, and draft compensation would be necessary in order for a new team to secure him this offseason.
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While Tomlin is currently jobless, the veteran coach is expected to have his pick of any TV analyst job he wants.
Fox is the favorite to land Tomlin before the 2026 NFL season, but ESPN, NBC, CBS and Amazon Prime Video all reportedly have their eyes on him as a future employee as well.
“Fox, ESPN, NBC, CBS and Amazon Prime Video would all be better with Tomlin to impart his Tomlin-isms via the small screen. He can likely receive multi-million dollar offers from all of them,” sports media insider Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported after Tomlin’s departure from Pittsburgh.
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Tomlin finishes his head coaching career in Pittsburgh with a 193-114-2 overall record, eight AFC North titles and a Super Bowl XLIII ring. While he won’t be back on the NFL sidelines in 2026, the 53-year-old coach will likely be a highly-sought-after target in 2027.
“This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team,” Tomlin said in his farewell statement. “… While this chapter comes to a close, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change. I am excited for what the future holds for this organization, and I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.”
