NBC's Mike Tomlin reveals why he left Steelers, thoughts on Aaron Rodgers

· Yahoo Sports

Days after news emerged that Mike Tomlin was diving into a long-anticipated career in sports media, the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach spoke with his new NBC colleague, Maria Taylor, during an interviewed that aired over the weekend about his transition to the "Football Night in America" team as well as his departure from the sideline after 19 seasons (none below .500) in the Steel City.

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"There's a loneliness with leadership," Tomlin, who didn't conduct a press conference following his decision to leave the Steelers, said of stepping away from coaching.

"I just thought it was a good time for me, personally. And by that, I mean just where I am in life. And I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you. We didn't have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years."

Though Tomlin won Super Bowl 43 to cap his second season on the job in Pittsburgh and led the Steelers back to the Super Bowl two years later, they haven't won a playoff game since the 2016 playoffs. Tomlin guided the franchise into postseason during 13 of those 19 seasons.

While he said his transition was not an "overnight decision," Tomlin also seemed amped for his new gig, which will include 2026 road trips with "FNIA," which precedes NBC's always loaded "Sunday Night Football" lineup.

"I just thought it'd be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it, players, coaches, executives, and excited about doing that on Sunday night and traveling to different venues and getting that feel for the environment," said Tomlin, 54, regarding his new role.

"I just thought it'd be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers. I love to talk football. And so that's just an exciting component for me. I got to admit, though, there's going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety. It's good to be uncomfortable, the growth associated with that. And so man, I'm fired up about it."

NBC seems equally stoked about its biggest NFL free addition in years, Tomlin replacing his NFL mentor Tony Dungy as part of the pre-game lineup for "FNIA," the most-watched studio show in sports for the past two decades, per the network.

“When Mike Tomlin talks, people listen. He’s one of the most iconic and respected coaches and voices in the NFL,” Sam Flood, executive Producer and president of production for NBC Sports, said in a statement announcing Tomlin's hiring.

“His perspective and passion for the game will add an authentic new voice to NFL Sundays.”

And though Tomlin didn't unleash any Tomlin-isms − "Two dogs, one bone," "We want volunteers, not hostages," "I'm fundamentally against comfort," and "I expect routine catches to be made routinely" among them − while speaking to Taylor, he got a head start in providing analysis when asked who will be playing quarterback for the Steelers in 2026 given four-time league MVP Aaron Rodgers, who came to Pittsburgh, in large part to play for Tomlin, in 2025 has yet to render an official decision about whether to play a 22nd NFL season.

"Man, if you got a gun to my head, I'd say it's AR," Tomlin said. "I just think, Aaron, I just think being around him for the 12 months that I'm around him, he's got a love affair with the game of football and not only the game, but the process, the informal moments, the development of younger guys, the interaction with teammates. I think he has an addiction to that, and there's only one way to feed it. And certainly he is still capable and in really good shape. And so I think at the end of the day, he'll play football."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Tomlin talks Steelers exit, Aaron Rodgers' future in new NBC role

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