Mike Tomlin’s sudden exit from Pittsburgh hit a nerve across Steelers Nation. After 19 seasons, one Super Bowl win, and years of playoff frustration, fans finally spoke in one voice. The reaction was sharp, emotional, and honest, showing how divided respect and results had become in Pittsburgh.

The Essentially Sports poll from the newsletter NFL Huddle asked, “Was Mike Tomlin’s decision to step down as the Steelers’ head coach the right call?” The fact that 2,131 out of the 3,289 voters (64.79%) voted ‘yes’ clearly reflects how much the recent playoff struggles mattered to fans. Despite Tomlin never having a losing season, seven straight postseason losses shifted the focus from consistency to postseason failure.

The fan comments revealed exactly why many supported the move. One wrote, “Out with the old…In with the new.” That reaction reflects fatigue from seeing the same results year after year, especially early playoff exits. Another fan said, “he can get them to the playoffs, but not to the ultimate game. time for them to find someone who can.” This viewpoint directly points at the Steelers’ repeated one-and-done playoff pattern, which became the main knock on Tomlin late in his tenure.

One of the names that is being thrown into the mix for the now-vacant Head Coach position is Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s HC Marcus Freeman. Although, Freeman wants to stay in Notre Dame for at least one more season, but he is being strongly adviced to take up the Steelers HC position.

Some fans focused on longevity. “He been here too long. He’s in a rut, which happens to all coaches who stay too long. He will be good on TV with his unique delivery.” That comment suggests fans believe Tomlin’s message stopped landing in the locker room, even if his personality could shine in a media role. Game strategy also drew heat.

One fan quote, “Time for a change, everybody knows y’all plays, you killing the defense keeping them on the field all day, because all the offense does is 3 and out.” This reflects frustration with conservative offense and constant pressure on the defense. The harshest criticism came bluntly, “He is an awful coach. When is the last Super Bowl he won?” While extreme, it highlights how distant that Super Bowl win now feels to fans.

Leadership concerns also surfaced. “Lost control of team… Wanted to be everyone’s buddy,” one fan claimed, pointing to discipline issues and uneven performances late in seasons. Another fan offered a more reflective take, “All leaders, even great ones, have a limited number of arrows in their quiver.” That comment framed Tomlin’s exit as a matter of natural timing rather than a failure.

Tomlin was part of the Steelers since 2007. With the 2025 season being his last, he ended with a 193-114-2 record. He led the Pittsburgh team to lift the Super Bowl XLIII trophy. At the time he was the youngest HC (36 years and 323 days) to win the Super Bowl.

Ultimately, the poll and fan reactions made one thing clear. Steelers Nation respected Mike Tomlin’s achievements but felt the message had grown stale. With playoff success fading, fans believed change was needed, and Pittsburgh now moves toward a new direction.

Mike Tomlin’s next act could keep him front and center in the NFL

Mike Tomlin may be done coaching the Steelers, but he is far from fading away. Around the league, talk is growing that television could be his next stop, with interest building fast from multiple networks.

“There have been murmurs, really, for a long time. We have talked about it plenty that Mike Tomlin would step away and then do television,” Ian Rapoport shared on his X account on Tuesday.

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Moreover, the move is clearly on Mike Tomlin’s radar, even if nothing is finalized yet. The interest is real, with multiple TV networks already lining up in advance, showing how highly valued he is and how strong the belief is that he will soon make the jump to television.

Many believe Tomlin’s sharp delivery and confident presence make him ideal for television, something fans have long noticed in his press conferences. Over the past few years, he has regularly been labelled one of the top coaching names that TV networks want.

Now that his time coaching in Pittsburgh is over, Mike Tomlin appears to be stepping toward a new spotlight. The growing interest from multiple networks shows his value extends beyond the sidelines. If he chooses television, his voice and presence could quickly make him one of the NFL’s most-watched analysts.