How Aaron Rodgers, Steelers players reacted to Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II said that he "wasn't expecting" to learn on Tuesday that head coach Mike Tomlin was stepping down after 19 seasons in charge. 

Tomlin broke the news to players during a Tuesday afternoon meeting. For an article published on Thursday morning, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic shared how some of those players immediately reacted to Tomlin's announcement.

Steelers players were ready to play for Mike Tomlin in 2026

"No," star pass-rusher T.J. Watt said. "No. No. No. No. No." 

Fans and local media members had campaigned for the Steelers to go in a different direction due to the club's lack of playoff success. Specifically, Pittsburgh hasn't earned a postseason victory since January 2017 and lost the final seven playoff games of Tomlin's tenure. That said, players often supported Tomlin amid calls and chants for his dismissal. 

"Every single player in that building wants to play for Mike T.," one unnamed Steelers player told DeFabo. "Were guys upset with coordinators? Yes. Was it the head guy? No." 

Steelers legend and former Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher recently insisted that Tomlin's messaging hadn't grown stale inside the locker room. At least one Steelers player echoed that take. 

"The guys that have been here longest, we don’t think that Mike T. was the issue," that player told DeFabo. "We genuinely never lost the belief in the locker room. It was super emotional for us, because it’s not him." 

How Aaron Rodgers reacted to the Mike Tomlin news

Shortly after Pittsburgh suffered a rough 30-6 wild-card playoff loss to the Houston Texans this past Monday night, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers ripped those who wanted the franchise to part ways with Tomlin. According to DeFabo, Rodgers said "through sobs" that he was "sorry" on multiple occasions after Tomlin broke the news. 

"I felt bad for him," a different player said about the coach hearing "Fire Tomlin" chants during home games this season. "I started thinking, if that was me, how long would I want to put up with that? Every time we lost it felt like the sky was falling. He took it all for us." 

What Mike Tomlin told Steelers players

"In the business of the NFL, there’s consequences for not doing your job," Tomlin reportedly told his players on Tuesday. "As a professional in this business, you have to live with those consequences. Some of us will be here next year; some of us won’t." 

Tomlin added that he felt it was "best for the organization for me to step down." According to Rooney, Tomlin stepping away was "probably more of a family-related decision than a football-related decision." 

Tomlin suggested differently with his words inside the locker room. 

"I want it to be better for you guys, because I care so much about you guys," he reportedly said.