Every football fan and their mother would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the Pittsburgh Steelers' facility when Mike Tomlin gave his final speech to the team. After 19 years as head coach, Tomlin elected to step down from his head coaching position and away from the organization altogether.
But how did things go down, and what did he say to his players? We finally have some answers.
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic shared some up-close and personal details regarding Tomlin's final message with the Steelers... and what the former head coach said will bring some fans to tears.
"In the business of the NFL, there's consequences for not doing your job. As a professional in this business, you have to live with those consequences. Some of us will be here next year; some of us won't.
Guys, I want you to hear this from me first... I just met with Art Rooney and Omar [Khan]. I think it's best for the organization for me to step down."
Pittsburgh Steelers fans can feel for Mike Tomlin and the players during this difficult transition
You can just feel the melancholy in Tomlin's words. The players he had close relationships with—and some who he's been around for the better part of a decade—were in shock as he shared his final words with the team.
DeFabo went on to say that cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was hyperventilating when he heard the news, while quarterback Aaron Rodgers told his now former head coach, 'I'm sorry.' Tomlin's ex-players reportedly gave the long-time head coach a standing ovation for his services to the team.
There's no question that Mike Tomlin is a player's coach—everyone knows that. But we really get a sense of just how deeply he was adored by the players who fought and battled for him over the years.
Considering how much respect he had from his players, questions surrounding the future of Steelers veterans now start pouring in as Pittsburgh begins its search for a new head coach.
Will Cameron Heyward retire? Will Aaron Rodgers have no interest in returning?
Veterans like T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith will now be forced to learn from a new coaching staff under the direction of a new head coach, which could possibly include an entirely new defensive scheme.
Tomlin is not absolved of all blame for the way things ended in Pittsburgh, but very few head coaches in the history of the league earned as much respect from their players as Mike Tomlin. And just like his now former players, we wish him well in his next endeavor.