Mike Tomlin has wild admission about his first free offseason in decades

Mike Tomlin is clearly enjoying the freedom during his first offseason away from the Pittsburgh Steelers in decades.

Tomlin recently appeared on “The Dan Patrick Show,” and the veteran host’s first question was about Tomlin having all the free time in the world this offseason rather than preparing for another grueling NFL campaign. The 54-year-old Tomlin, who stepped down as the Steelers’ coach in January after 19 seasons, had the widest smile when he said he was “having the time of my life.”

“I’ve enjoyed 2026, man,” Tomlin told Patrick, via Josh Chambers. “The free time, had an opportunity to really just focus on my wellness, getting into shape and things of that nature.

“Man, when you lead a football team, a football organization, sometimes you put yourself last. So it’s been good to kind of focus on some things like that and really just have time to be present with my family and friends.”

Tomlin then added that he was finally able to attend a family reunion in August for the first time since before long-retired Peyton Manning was drafted into the NFL.

“I hadn’t been to a family reunion since 1997,” Tomlin continued. “The family reunion is always the third week in July. Where have I been all of my adult life the third week of July? In a football camp. My family was laughing that I was there. It’s been a good summer.”

While it’s great that Tomlin finally has the free time he’s been missing for ages, it’s fair to wonder why the family never tried to accommodate Tomlin even once since 1997.

Tomlin lives in a $3 million mansion in the peaceful Squirrel Hill North neighborhood, which makes his Pittsburgh, Pa., home an ideal place to host a family reunion. One would have fairly assumed the Tomlin clan had made Mike the guest of honor at the 2009 reunion after he led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory.

Tomlin must be a much better football coach than he is a grill master on BBQ duty.