The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a major change as former head coach Mike Tomlin is beginning his career as an analyst for Sunday Night Football and Mike McCarthy is beginning his tenure as head coach in Pittsburgh. Tomlin stepped down after his team was eliminated from the postseason for the third straight year in 2025, and the franchise then went through a thorough search and ended up hiring McCarthy. Much of the fan base has come around to the move, although it did break a few trends when it came to the organization's hiring process. Usually, a defensive coach is selected, but McCarthy has an offensive focus.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
A lot of the fan base in Pittsburgh can appreciate what Tomlin did for the franchise and the city, and he will likely be enshrined in Canton one day for his impressive career. However, that career might not be over. He stepped away from the Steelers, but he never retired from coaching. He joined Sunday Night Football for the 2026 season, but there is a chance he might find himself missing coaching. He will certainly be contacted by franchises with coaching vacancies during the 2027 offseason, and there is a chance he could decide to return.
It is hard to guess or pinpoint where Tomlin might end up if he decides to return to coaching. Once jobs start to open up as coaches get fired later on in the season and immediately after the regular season ends it will be easier to get an idea of how real a return to coaching could be. NFL insider Jason La Canfora recently spoke about Tomlin and what is next for the former head coach, and he mentioned the New York Jets and a team up with Lamar Jackson in a recent article for Casino.org.
"Mike Tomlin is generating significant interest among NFL owners for a potential return back to head coaching," La Canfora wrote. "Jets Owner Woody Johnson is reportedly doing his homework on Tomlin, with NFL sources believing the Jets are the front-runners to sign him. NFL GMs believe Lamar Jackson could seek a trade, with a Mike Tomlin-led Jets viewed as a potential destination."
Aaron Glenn is currently the head coach of the Jets, but he has to be leading the pack among current NFL coaches that could be fired by Halloween. He had a horrendous rookie season as a head coach in 2025. That includes execution on the field, timeout usage, game management, and speaking to the media. He failed in nearly every area of being a head coach and somehow kept his job. Tomlin might be a prime replacement if the Jets decide to finally pull the plug.
© Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images
Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on the sideline during a road win over the New York Jets in 2025.
The portion of this involving Jackson is a little far-fetched, but it isn't impossible. The Baltimore Ravens are also going through a coaching overhaul, and there is a chance he might not end up liking the way things go under a new staff. He could ask out, and that is especially true if a new deal cannot be reached between him and the organization. He is currently under contract through the 2027 season.
Steelers Fans Would Hate To See Mike Tomlin And Lamar Jackson Team Up
The rivalry between Pittsburgh and Baltimore is one of the strongest in the NFL, so seeing the former head coach of the Steelers team up with Jackson would hurt for some fans in Pittsburgh. That duo would have a legitimate shot to turn the Jets around, which could be fun to watch from afar. This would also be entertaining a reunion between Tomlin and Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X (@brogannoey) and consider following for more Steelers-related content and discussion. I’m always open to hearing different perspectives, breaking down games, and talking all things Pittsburgh Steelers football.
#SteelerNation