Mike Tomlin served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 years prior to stepping down in January. Ahead of his return to a Steelers game as an NBC Sports analyst this Sunday night against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tomlin discussed his retirement choice with Cam Heyward on the “Not Just Football” Podcast, as reported by sports.yahoo.com.
Deciding to Step Down
When questioned about whether he realized he would retire following the playoff defeat to the Texans during January’s wild card round, Tomlin stated that he made the choice rapidly. “I did probably by the time I pulled in my driveway,” Tomlin said. This quick realization indicated that he had considered the possibility for a significant duration.
“I never wanted to stay too long,” Tomlin added. “As a football lover, I was always really impressed by those that moved away or had the self-awareness to move away at what they deemed the appropriate time. I just always wanted to respect the game enough to be able to do that. To not overstay my welcome. That was a big component of me coming to the decision as anything.”
Putting the Players First
Tomlin consistently intended to depart on his own terms. His retirement caught numerous observers by surprise because he kept the choice private until the moment he resigned.
“I just thought we had the makings of a really good team, a team that is capable of competing for and winning a championship,” Tomlin stated. “But when I really started thinking about it, man, my bags might slow that down. I thought that guys like him (Heyward) and T.J. were deserving of the optimism that comes with new regimes. I’ve been around that. I saw it in Tampa. I want that for those guys, even if it means it doesn’t happen with me.”
Tomlin maintained a reputation for fostering strong connections with his athletes throughout his tenure. Even while finalizing his departure from coaching, he prioritized the players and their future success at the highest level.
