Although Monday night’s loss to the Houston Texans extended Pittsburgh’s playoff win drought to a decade, most of the NFL world was blindsided when Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced to the franchise that he was stepping down from the post after 19 seasons in the role.
“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Tomlin wrote in a public statement. “This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team. I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney Il and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day, and to the coaches and staff whose commitment and dedication made this journey so meaningful.
“I want to also thank Steelers Nation. Your passion, loyalty, and high expectations represent what makes this franchise truly special. Coaching in Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else, and I will always take
great pride in having been a steward of this team. While this chapter comes to a close, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change. I am excited for what the future holds for this organization, and I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.”
Team owner and President Art Rooney II also shared a statement on the news.
“Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years. It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin,” Rooney’s statement read. “He guided the franchise to our sixth Super Bowl championship and made the playoffs 13 times during his tenure, including winning the AFC North eight times in his career. His track record of never having a losing season in 19 years will likely never be duplicated.
“My family and I, and everyone connected to Steelers management, are forever grateful for the passion and dedication Mike Tomlin has devoted to Steelers football.”
Now, Miek DeFabo of The Athletic has reported on the moments leading up to and after the decision, and has shared a rather interesting tidbit.
“In the business of the NFL, there’s consequences for not doing your job,” Tomlin told his assembled team. “As a professional in this business, you have to live with those consequences. Some of us will be here next year; some of us won’t. Guys, I want you to hear this from me first … I just met with Art Rooney and Omar. I think it’s best for the organization for me to step down.”
Rodgers responded through sobs, with a two-word message for his coach: ‘I’m sorry,’ several teammates heard him say. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
It’s not shocking that Rodgers was so emotional after Tomlin’s announcement after only a single season in Pittsburgh. Even after Pittsburgh’s Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans, Rodgers came to the defense of how the media and fans were beginning to perceive Tomlin.
“The way that the league is covered now and the way that there’s snap decisions and the validity given to the Twitter experts and all the experts on TV now who make it seem like they know what the hell they’re talking about, to me that’s an absolute joke,” Rodgers said after the loss to Houston.
“And for either those two guys to be on the hot seat is really apropos of where we’re at as a society and a league, because obviously Matt’s done a lot of great things in Green Bay, and we had a lot of success.”
It’ll be interesting to see what bodes next for both Tomlin and Rodgers.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.