Mike Tomlin makes revealing comments about if he could leave Steelers for TV job

Whispers about head coach Mike Tomlin voluntarily walking away from the Pittsburgh Steelers this winter hovered over the organization long before Pittsburgh claimed the AFC North division title via a thrilling win over the rival Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. 

A recent story suggested Tomlin could take a break from coaching and accept a job working as an NFL analyst for one of the league's media partners. During a Wednesday appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show," Tomlin seemed to put such talk to bed. 

Mike Tomlin still loves coaching Steelers

"I'm institutionalized, man," Tomlin responded when asked if he still has a passion for coaching at the highest level, per Alex Kozora of Steelers Depot. "I gotta have it. I just love the challenges week in and week out that this job provides. The growth in it. The collective growth, the individual growth. A lot of lessons I've learned in life have been through my football experiences. I've been on a team every year of my life, man, since 1980. And so I really appreciate it."

At least one Steelers insider feels there's nothing to the chatter about Tomlin possibly stepping down, and there's zero indication the Steelers will fire him after Pittsburgh's campaign comes to an end. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler raised eyebrows when he reported on Wednesday that "a source close to Tomlin believes stepping away is at least a possibility." However, Fowler also shared that "there is no firm evidence as of now that Tomlin would leave Pittsburgh after 19 seasons." 

"A separate source with ties to Tomlin is confident he will stay in Pittsburgh," Fowler added. 

In June 2024, Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension that included a team option for 2027. That option must be exercised by March 1 of this year.  

Mike Tomlin doesn't "participate in" rumors about his future

"I don't participate in any of that," Tomlin said about the television rumors. "I can't allow myself to. I'm not even really privy to the specifics of what you're talking about. I just realize it's a component of what I do and what we do. You better learn to live with it or at least endure it."

Tomlin seemingly is doing all he can to focus on Pittsburgh's upcoming wild-card playoff game against the 12-5 Houston Texans this coming Monday night. As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the 10-7 Steelers as three-point home underdogs for that contest.