What was reported about inevitable Mike Tomlin rumors after Bills fired Sean McDermott

This past Saturday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had told teams interested in possibly trading for his rights this winter that he "does not plan to coach" for any club during the 2026 season. 

However, some understandably wondered immediately after it was learned on Monday that the Buffalo Bills had dismissed head coach Sean McDermott if Tomlin would have any interest in speaking with Bills ownership about that opening. 

During Monday's edition of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" program, Rapoport addressed the Tomlin rumors that may hover over the Bills for at least a handful of days.

Would Mike Tomlin change mind about short-term future for Bills?

"I don't believe it will be Mike Tomlin," Rapoport said about the Bills' next head coach, per Jake Brockhoff of Steelers Depot. "I don't think Mike Tomlin wants to coach this year." 

Previous reports indicated Tomlin wanted and/or felt like he needed a break from coaching after he spent 19 seasons in his role with the Steelers. Some believe that Fox or a different network will employ Tomlin as an on-air analyst during the 2026 campaign before he decides what he wants to do for 2027 and beyond. 

What would it cost Bills to make a bold Mike Tomlin move? 

Before the New York Giants won the John Harbaugh sweepstakes, somebody within Giants ownership reportedly "reached out to" Tomlin shortly after he stepped down as Pittsburgh's head coach on Jan. 13. Meanwhile, Tomlin inked a three-year contract extension with the Steelers that included a team option for 2027 back in June 2024. Thus far, there has been no sign that the Steelers would relinquish Tomlin's rights for nothing this winter. 

"And the compensation would be wild," Rapoport added about the Bills or a different team attempting to acquire Tomlin's rights from Pittsburgh. "First-round (draft) picks and more." 

The "and more" portion of the update may have been a reference to the five-year deal worth "$100M plus lucrative bonuses" that Harbaugh received from the Giants. Regardless of what the Bills may be willing to do to land Tomlin, it sounds like he's serious about spending a minimum of one season unattached to any single franchise.