Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin have parted ways, everyone is curious about what Tomlin’s future holds. NFL teams and TV networks are lining up, hoping he’ll come their way.
Of course, so far, NFL teams haven’t gotten their wish. Steelers owner Art Rooney II said on Wednesday he doesn’t get the impression Tomlin will be on an NFL sideline next season.
"Mike indicated that he did not anticipate coaching in the future, wanted to spend time with his family. Right now, (coaching again) doesn't seem to be on his radar," Rooney said in a press conference.
If what Rooney said holds true, then Tomlin may be on your television screen next fall, offering up more Tomlin-isms and football wisdom in each broadcast, no doubt. Still, there are plenty of teams on the TV side of things hoping that he joins their crew.
Mike Tomlin could be teaming up with a Steelers legend off the field next season
While CBS, ESPN, NFL Network, and Amazon Prime would all love to have Tomlin behind their desks, it appears FOX is the leading candidate to get Tomlin, potentially for their weekly pre-game show, Fox NFL Sunday.
“Fox is considered the favorite, as it has not filled Jimmy Johnson’s seat on Fox’s NFL studio show following Johnson’s retirement,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand wrote on Tuesday. “Fox NFL Sunday, featuring Michael Strahan, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Rob Gronkowski, has a top-line resume requirement: Must be a Hall of Famer or future Hall of Famer."
Regardless of how many Steelers fans feel about the last nine years of Tomlin’s time in Pittsburgh, his status as a potential Hall of Famer amongst fans after a break-up isn’t going to stop FOX from getting one of the league’s most famous orators and successful coaches in its history.
Even still, it’s fun to imagine Tomlin interacting with Bradshaw, Gronkowski, and the rest of the crew. Particularly Bradshaw, especially given his rather bold takes on some of the Steelers’ decisions in recent years.
READ MORE: Art Rooney II says just what Steelers fans want to hear about replacing Mike Tomlin
Of course, there’s a tinge of irony here for every Tomlin detractor over the years who had to endure the retort that if Tomlin and the Steelers ever split, he’d have another head coaching job lined up in five minutes. Sure, a quarter of the league might have unmeasurably high interest in hiring him, but instead, Tomlin looks to be heading to a cozy studio to chop it up with four football legends. Maybe those detractors have the last laugh, for now.
Of course, Tomlin will be a free agent next year, and one year away from the sidelines could help him decide on his next coaching job, if he wants one. He’d certainly have an excellent vantage point on how all 31 other teams look to see where he fits in, whether he’s at FOX or any other network next season.