Mike Tomlin isn’t thinking about coaching again. Instead, the former Steelers coach says his only focus is his new NBC Sports role.
What We Know: Tomlin joined NBC Sports this year as a studio analyst on Football Night in America. He made the move after leaving Pittsburgh, where he never had a losing season in 19 years. This week, he’ll work on location in Cincinnati for Steelers-Bengals on Sunday night. Notably, the game puts the division lead on the line and marks the first time he has worked a Steelers game. In a conference call with NBC Sports, Tomlin says he has no inkling of returning to the sidelines to coach an NFL franchise.
What They Said: (All quotes via NBC Sports PR):
Mike Tomlin says he hasn’t thought at all about a return to coaching in the NFL: “Haven’t given one iota of thought about coaching. I’m sure that some of that’s going to come up in a not-too-distant future. I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. Really hadn’t thought a lot about it. Really excited about my new role and working to get better each and every week.”
Mike Tomlin on the excitement of a new challenge in broadcasting: “It’s also fun to be challenged. I’m a novice, obviously, and so I’ve just been hyper-focused on getting better each and every week in terms of delivering information and delivering it in an educational and entertaining way.”
Mike Tomlin appreciates seeing the NFL from the broadcaster point of view: “It’s awesome to be as close to the game as I am and be able to observe the game from a global perspective. I think when you’re coaching, you block out a lot of the peripheral things during the NFL season. It’s been fun to really enjoy observing it, absorbing it from a football lover’s perspective.
What Remains Unclear: Still, Tomlin’s name will likely come up in the upcoming head coach hiring cycle. In fact, he admitted the topic could arise this off season. Additionally, it remains unclear how long he plans to stay at NBC Sports.
What It Means: For NBC, Tomlin brings fresh sideline credibility to Football Night in America. Moreover, his openness about still learning the craft should resonate with viewers, and his performance thus far has been excellent. Ultimately, a strong run on air could quiet the coaching chatter. Either way, Sunday in Cincinnati puts him squarely in the spotlight.
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