Mike Tomlin opens up about joining NBC as an analyst after leaving Steelers

During an NBC segment that aired on Sunday, former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin opened up about leaving the team that had employed him from 2007 through this past regular season. 

Tomlin also discussed why he decided to serve as an analyst for NBC's "Football Night in America" show for at least the 2026 campaign.

Mike Tomlin wanted "to stay connected" to the NFL after leaving the Steelers

"I just thought it'd be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it, players, coaches, executives, and excited about doing that on Sunday night and traveling to different venues and getting that feel for the environment," Tomlin explained, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

Whether or not Tomlin will one day return to the sidelines is a topic that likely will hover over NBC and his status throughout 2026. While the Steelers lost the final seven playoff games of Tomlin's tenure, the 54-year-old almost certainly would become a hot candidate if he made it known that he wanted to get back to coaching at the highest level as soon as January 2027.

"I just thought it'd be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers," Tomlin added about beginning his media career. "I love to talk football. And so that's just an exciting component for me. I got to admit, though, there's going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety. It's good to be uncomfortable, the growth associated with that. And so man, I'm fired up about it."

Mike Tomlin details experiencing the NFL Draft as a fan

Tomlin noted that he followed the 2026 NFL Draft while sitting at a cigar bar with some friends.

"Supposedly watching the draft, but you start telling war stories and so forth, the draft's watching you," Tomlin said about how he experienced this year's player-selection process. "But it was fun to watch it through a different lens. And when you're not on the clock, you can just appreciate what a significant moment that is for the young people. And so to watch those guys get drafted, man, and live out a component of their dreams. Now we all know now the work starts, but that was a big night for those guys and it's just fun to just watch it from that perspective."

It remains to be seen if Tomlin will be inside some team's war room when the next draft gets underway.