The NFL head coaching landscape will drastically change in 2026 after several teams made changes after Super Bowl 60, but the Pittsburgh Steelers not having Mike Tomlin will take fans time to adjust to.
Pittsburgh opted to make a change with their legendary head coach after 19 straight NFL seasons. However, Tomlin hadn’t given the organization a proper goodbye until Thursday night.
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During the Ireland Funds Gala, Tomlin and his wife, Kiya, received a special honor. The Tomlin family was given the Patricia R. Rooney Community Impact Award for the former head coach’s lasting impact.
The event marks the chance for both Tomlin and the Steelers to prepare for life without one another. This comes as Mike McCarthy takes over the Pittsburgh head coaching role heading into the 2026 season.
“We were here for a long and really good time,” Tomlin said at the Ireland Funds Gala. “It’s been an honor to serve the greatest organization in sports … We’re in somewhat of a nomadic business and so we don’t take that for granted.”
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The 53 year old took over the Steelers reigns in 2007 after former head coach Bill Cowher left the organization. Cowher’s move to CBS led to a second act in his career as a successful NFL analyst.
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However, many NFL fans are curious what will come next for Tomlin as he prepares for a career shift. It’s likely that Tomlin takes at least a year off from coaching before jumping back into coaching.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin after an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The AFC North saw three teams make head coaching changes after the 205 NFL season, including Tomlin, John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski. However, Harbaugh took over with the New York Giants and Stefanski landed a new role with the Atlanta Falcons.
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