Will Mike Tomlin coach in 2026 after stepping away from Steelers? 

During a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," ESPN NFL analyst Peter Schrager shared that outsiders would likely learn about the future of Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin "in the next 48 hours." 

It turns out Tomlin likely already knew what he planned to do before Pittsburgh endured a rough 30-6 wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night.

Does Mike Tomlin want to coach a team other than the Steelers in 2026? 

Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Adam Schefter, Tomlin informed Steelers players on Tuesday afternoon that he is stepping down as Pittsburgh's head coach after 19 seasons in charge. According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, the expectation is that Tomlin will "step away from coaching for at least a year." 

Tomlin famously never had a losing campaign as Pittsburgh's head coach from 2007 through this season, and he guided the Steelers to a Super Bowl title in February 2009. However, he became a polarizing figure among Pittsburgh fans due to the club's postseason woes over the past nine years. 

Specifically, the Steelers lost the final seven playoff games of Tomlin's tenure. Pittsburgh last notched a postseason victory in January 2017.

"During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our head coach," Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a released statement. "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. 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."

One would think the Tomlin news ensures that 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers won't spend another season with the Steelers. A recent update suggested Rodgers is ready to retire. 

What's next for Mike Tomlin after Steelers decision? 

Roughly 12 hours after the Steelers were bounced from the playoffs, a report revealed that Fox was "considered the favorite" among the NFL's media partners to land Tomlin's services if he and the Steelers parted ways. This past fall, whispers surfaced claiming that Tomlin needed "a breather" and was "tired" from serving as an NFL head coach for nearly two decades. 

"The current prevailing sentiment is he’ll land at Fox," Florio added about Tomlin. "Every network will surely want him." 

Before the playoffs got underway, Tomlin insisted he was still passionate about coaching at the highest level. Unless those comments were merely a smokescreen, he could make himself available to other clubs as soon as next winter.