The Tomlins are building a legacy here. While Mike Tomlin has been a force shaping the Pittsburgh Steelers with leadership, his wife, Kiya, has been making waves off the field. After launching her own fashion brand in 2014, she has expanded the horizons of her brand from just wedding gowns to working with a wide range of clients. With her proud American-made craftsmanship, she has been upfront in supporting communities. Now, she is carving the same lane with her latest endeavour.

In her recent Instagram story, Kiya announced that she will be organizing an annual Steelers fashion show, which is a charitable event. The Instagram story also mentioned the dates of the event. The event will take place on October 10 at 6 PM. Although the venue of the event was not disclosed in the story, it is expected to be organized near her apparel store in Etna, Pennsylvania.

This is not the first time she has taken inspiration from football. In August this year, her NFL-inspired fashion line took the big stage of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Fashion Show Luncheon at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. There, she shared the spotlight with a former “Project Runway” contestant, Valerie Mayen. She endorsed a brand known for its handmade, socially conscious women’s wear and accessories.

Philanthropy through business has always been carried out by Kiya. Just a year after her launch in 2014, she donated unsold inventory to the survivors of Hurricane Harvey, which hit Houston. She teamed up with NFL wives to bring comfort through clothing. Her commitment did not just stop there. She also sewed masks during the pandemic and upcycled fabric scraps into comfort items for patients and people with special needs.

Kiya Tomlin, though, isn’t the only NFL wife who’s running a successful fashion business. Let’s learn more about the others.

NFL wives thriving in fashion business

Kristin Juszczyk, wife of the San Francisco 49ers All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk, has her own fashion brand, Off Season. She recently gave the fans a behind-the-scenes look at her latest collection, where Kyle stepped up as a model in fun. He joked in the comments, “I need a raise,” but it was not Kyle who stole the spotlight; instead, it was Kiya Tomlin’s witty reply that chimed in.

“Super cute stuff! And I love how your hubby is so supportive. I could never talk Mike into modeling for me!” Kristin wasn’t about to let that go, playfully answering, “@kiyatomlin it’s never too late!!!”  The thought of Mike Tomlin posing in fashion gear? Almost unthinkable. Still, Mike’s support has always been there in his own way. “He (Mike Tomlin) is very supportive. He doesn’t pretend to know if it’s good or not,” Kiya told CBS News in 2012. Once, when she asked his opinion on a short hooded long-sleeved red dress for a charity event, he replied, “If you like it, I love it. Let’s go.” That’s it. No questions asked.

Like Kristin, Kiya’s fashion journey was born of passion. As a young girl, she dreamed of becoming a doctor while secretly nurturing a love for sewing. She even carried a sewing machine with her to college. The turning point came when she skipped her MCAT exam to fully pursue designing.

Years of apprenticeships and classes, along with her supporting coach husband, helped her to come this far. For her, it has always been about designing clothes that celebrate all women and provide something to society. Just like Kristin, Kiya proves that being an NFL wife doesn’t always mean standing on the sidelines; it refers to running your own playbook in other professions.