Pat McAfee gave Mike Tomlin’s TV debut a thumbs up. The former Steelers coach earned rare early praise from a demanding critic.
What We Know: Tomlin joined NBC after parting ways with the Steelers in January, closing a 19-year run as head coach. Meanwhile, he replaced Tony Dungy on the Football Night in America desk, joining Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett and Devin McCourty. During Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game broadcast, Tomlin interviewed Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and endorsed successor Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh. He also skipped the traditional necktie, opting for a more relaxed look.
What They Said: (All quotes via The Pat McAfee Show)
Pat McAfee on Mike Tomlin’s debut on NBC Sports: “I think his entire life he’s been preparing to do the role that he’s about to do… I’m going to be honest. Every single time he was on a microphone, the reason why he got that head coaching job is because when he’s talking, he’s unbelievable. That is a huge part of being a head coach and of leadership. But obviously for television.”
Pat McAfee on Mike Tomlin not wearing a tie for his debut on NBC Sports: “I appreciate the fact he came in there no tie. Listen, I get it. I will do the thing. But I’m not doing a tie… I appreciate that he said I will dress up, but I’m not going full puppet here because we don’t need him. We need Coach Tomlin to be exactly who Coach Tomlin always is.”
Pat McAfee on why Football Night In America is successful: “That’s a great show. Football Night in America has the ratings it has because everybody wants to watch a recap and also wants to watch Sunday Night Football. But also, they don’t like abuse that audience. That show would get a huge number regardless. They don’t abuse the that right. They actually produce incredible stuff, so we appreciate them doing that. And he [Mike Tomlin] is going to be an asset to football this year.”
What Remains Unclear: Whether Tomlin sticks with broadcasting long-term remains uncertain, given persistent speculation about a coaching return. Viewership data for the annual Hall of Fame Game is unknown.
What It Means: McAfee’s endorsement carries weight across sports media circles. Furthermore, it signals that Tomlin’s transition from sideline to studio is already resonating with peers. As a result, NBC gains instant credibility for a rebuilt Football Night in America crew. Ultimately, Tomlin’s early reviews suggest he potentially found a second calling. For a debut, overall feedback has been very positive.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.