Mike Tomlin doesn’t close the door on possibly returning to coaching as Panthers rumor surfaces

Shortly after Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers this previous winter, a number of individuals near the 54-year-old said that he was “accomplished” teaching for good. 

Whereas Tomlin is now serving as an on-air NFL analyst for NBC, it feels like he hasn’t slammed the door shut on probably making a return to the sidelines sooner or later. 

Mike Tomlin on potential return to teaching: “I’ll cross that bridge once I come to it”

“I’m having a variety of enjoyable,” Tomlin stated throughout an NBC convention name on Wednesday, per Mark Maske of Entrance Workplace Sports activities. “Haven’t given one iota of considered teaching. I’m certain that, you already know, a few of that’s going to return up within the not-too-distant future. However I’ll cross that bridge once I come to it.” 

Tomlin guided the Steelers to at least one Tremendous Bowl championship whereas serving as their head coach from 2007 by the 2025 season, and he famously never completed a marketing campaign with a dropping document. It grew to become clear way back to March that he was going to make the transfer right into a broadcasting position, however some nonetheless imagine he may obtain a “‘Godfather’ supply” or two from coach-needy groups this coming January. 

Particularly, a number of reports from late August by October talked about that New York Jets proprietor Woody Johnson may rent Tomlin to interchange present New York coach Aaron Glenn. Extra just lately, it was suggested that Dallas Cowboys proprietor and basic supervisor Jerry Jones may fireplace head coach Brian Schottenheimer after Week 18 if Jones is aware of at the moment that Tomlin would settle for that job. 

Mike Tomlin presently centered on bettering “every week” for NBC

“Actually haven’t thought rather a lot about it,” Tomlin added about probably getting again into teaching. “Actually enthusiastic about my new position and dealing to get higher every week.”

Additionally on Wednesday, NFL insider Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Discuss named the Philadelphia Eagles, the Indianapolis Colts and the Carolina Panthers as different groups that would probably be concerned with Tomlin this winter. 

“The one to look at most intently is the Panthers,” Florio defined. “Proprietor David Tepper, who beforehand owned a chunk of the Steelers, is broadly believed to be very concerned with Tomlin. The Jets make sense, too; with the Giants reaping the moment advantage of hiring Tomlin’s former arch rival, John Harbaugh, Jets proprietor Woody Johnson could turn out to be motivated to do no matter it takes to get Tomlin.”

That is all properly and good, but it surely’s additionally potential that Tomlin may use such chatter as a approach to finally get more cash from NBC following the 2026 season.