New Report Reveals Steelers Players’ Interesting Reaction To Mike Tomlin’s Departure
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
Mike Tomlin’s resignation from the Pittsburgh Steelers reportedly came as a surprise to the players.
Less than 24 hours after the Steelers were humiliated 30-6 by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, Mike Tomlin resigned from the team after 18 years at the helm. With that, Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs (employed there since 2013) is now the NFL’s longest-tenured active head coach.
Many angry and impatient Steelers fans have wanted Tomlin gone for some time, and they made it clear during an ugly Week 13 home loss to the Buffalo Bills. To some, Tomlin’s departure is anything but a stunner.
But according to two separate reporters, Pittsburgh Steelers’ players were shocked by Tomlin’s announcement.
According to ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin, Steelers players are in “disbelief” over Mike Tomlin’s decision to leave. Martin’s ESPN colleague, Brooke Pryor, shared additional details on “SportsCenter.”
Interestingly, veteran tight end Jonnu Smith called Tomlin the “fall guy” and praised his leadership.
“I can tell you, every conversation I had, there was no inkling that that’s what he was about to tell his team…This meeting lasted less than 30 minutes. People I talked to with the team even a day before had no indication that this was coming down the pipeline.”
Reporting on a surreal day in Pittsburgh for @SportsCenter.
Prior to the team meeting, I asked Jonnu Smith about the fan angst around Tomlin. Smith called him a “fall guy.”
“They’re going to look at the leader. And for us, that’s Mike Tomlin. But we had a hell of a leader.” pic.twitter.com/OsRQoXrwND
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 13, 2026
Along with former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Tomlin immediately moves atop the list of candidates for the 2026 NFL HC hiring cycle. That’s if Tomlin wants to dive back into coaching right away, of course.
Mike Tomlin Left At The Perfect Time
The fact that the Steelers never had a losing season under Tomlin is a testament to his coaching abilities. But this is a proud franchise with six Super Bowl championships, and Pittsburgh hasn’t won a postseason game since 2016.
Pittsburgh brought in Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and DK Metcalf to bolster their championship hopes. All it did was lead to another disappointing loss in the Wild Card Round.
The Steelers’ competitive window is definitely closing. Tomlin is better off seeking new opportunities instead of sticking with a middling franchise that’s constantly stuck in the mushy middle.
