Mike Tomlin Gets Candid on Why he Stepped Down as Steelers’ Head Coach Despite Multiple Playoff Appearances

Mike Tomlin revealed that after the Steelers season ended in the wild card round, he realized that it was the right moment for him to step down as head coach.

Mike Tomlin Gets Candid on Why he Stepped Down as Steelers’ Head Coach Despite Multiple Playoff Appearances

Mike Tomlin (Image via IMAGO/X)

In Short
  • Mike Tomlin stepped down as Steelers' head coach to allow for new leadership after recent playoff struggles.
  • He led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in 2008 but has not won a playoff game since 2018.
  • The Steelers drafted quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft amid uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers' future.

Before his big debut as an analyst on NBC Sports’ Football Night in America pre-game show this fall, Mike Tomlin appeared on the network and shed light on various unanswered questions. One of the best coaches in NFL history, Tomlin retired from football earlier this year to spend time with his family, and later decided to pursue a career in TV.

His resignation caused a lot of stir in the football world. Everyone wanted to know the reason behind suddenly walking away from the sport that he dearly loves. Tomlin answered that question on Sunday.

I thought it was a good time for the organization [the Pittsburgh Steelers] to be quite honest with you. We didn’t have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years. Guys like Cam Heyward, TJ Watt, and Boswell that I thought were worthy of the excitement and optimism associated with new leadership.

Mike Tomlin said

Tomlin helped the Steelers win a Super Bowl in 2008 and reached another one two years later. From then on, the Steelers qualified for the playoffs on different occasions. However, the last time the Steelers won a game in the playoffs was back in 2018.

Tomlin set the standard so high that fans began to grow restless due to the constant mediocrity in recent years. Certainly, the Steelers consistently played postseason football, but for a historic club like them, the minimum requirement is to compete in the AFC title game almost every year.

Last year felt different. With four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers calling the shots from under center, the Steelers played like a team that could break the jinx and finally make a deep playoff run. It wasn’t meant to be, as the Houston Texans decimated them in the wild-card round.

Shortly after the defeat, the football world received the shocking news of Tomlin’s resignation. The abruptness of his actions even surprised the locker room. According to league sources, Rodgers apologized to Tomlin for letting him down, and veterans TJ Watt and others were in tears.

In his 19-year stint with the Steelers, Tomlin never had a losing season. He went 193-114-2 (.628) and 8-12 in the playoffs. Many thought Tomlin would return to the NFL after a one or two-year gap, but people close to the 54-year-old feel that he’s done with coaching.

The Steelers appointed former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy won a Super Bowl with Rodgers as his quarterback by defeating the Tomlin’s Steelers in the final.

Mike Tomlin gives a positive update on Aaron Rodgers

The Steelers weren’t Rodgers’ first choice after he was released by the Jets in 2025. He wanted to play for the Minnesota Vikings. However, the Vikings picked their young signal caller, and Rodgers ended up in Pittsburgh.

Mike Tomlin Gets Candid on Why he Stepped Down as Steelers' Head Coach Despite Multiple Playoff Appearances
Mike Tomlin (Image via IMAGO)

Rodgers came to the Steelers to link up with Tomlin, as both share a mutual admiration for one another. Rodgers helped the Steelers win the AFC North but got outplayed 30-6 by the Texans in the playoffs.

Football experts thought and still believe that Rodgers, 42, will retire very soon. Tomlin, on the other hand, is confident that the Super Bowl winner is not ready to hang up his cleats just yet.

[Aaron Rodgers] got a love affair with the game of football… He has an addiction to that, and there’s only one way to feed it.

Mike Tomlin said

Rodgers completed 65.7% of his passes for 3322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions. These numbers clearly indicate that he can still let it rip behind a solid offensive line.

The Steelers add a quarterback through the draft

With a big question mark hanging over Rodgers’ future, the Steelers went ahead and drafted a quarterback in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, held at Acrisure Stadium. At 76th overall, the Steelers selected Penn State alum Drew Allar.

Allar finished his college career with a 26-9 record. He threw for 7402 yards, 61 touchdowns, and 13 picks to go with 12 rushing touchdowns in four years with the Nittany Lions.

The Steelers also have ninth-year veteran Mason Rudolph and former Ohio State man Will Howard on the roster.

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