Was Mike Tomlin's resignation a long time coming?

In a shocking turn of events, Mike Tomlin has stepped down and moved on from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Not many people saw the renowned head coach leaving the team after 19 years, at least not many fans.

People inside the league, however, may have seen this coming a long time ago.

NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that Tomlin had made up his mind about his future long ago, adding that he didn't feel appreciated by the fans.

Mike Tomlin decided to resign before the season started 

"League sources heard that Mike Tomlin was contemplating leaving Pittsburgh even before the season started," Anderson wrote on X. "Adding, there's been a belief that Tomlin did not feel appreciated with contingents around the city believing he should fired. 'I would say this has been building gradually for the last 3 years,' the source opined."

Anderson then referred to a previous report from November 25, 2005, where she hinted at this happening without saying she was talking about Coach Tomlin.

"Meanwhile, there's is a longtime NFL head coach out there who is considering wanting a change of scenery & has told others of these thoughts," Anderson reported. 

Then again, it's also easy to understand the fanbase's frustration. The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since 2017, and they haven't even been competitive in their recent losses.

Still, Tomlin is a beloved and well-respected figure in the league, and he'll probably get another coaching job if he so chooses.