Podcast Summary

The Athletic Football Show – NEWS: Mike Tomlin steps down as Steelers head coach after 19 seasons

Date: January 13, 2026
Host: Robert Mays
Guests/Analysts: Dan Kadar

Episode Overview

This emergency episode covers the seismic news that Mike Tomlin has stepped down as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach after 19 seasons, marking the end of an era for one of the NFL's most stable franchises. Hosts Robert Mays and Dan Kadar break down the implications for the Steelers, Tomlin’s legacy, and what the future might hold for both parties—including coaching candidates and what kind of organizational reset Pittsburgh now faces.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Reactions to Tomlin’s Departure

• Both hosts highlight the shock and inevitability of the move given the repeated playoff disappointments and the Steelers' aging roster.
  • Dan Kadar: “If I had a nickel for every time you and I had to hop on an emergency livestream after a long-tenured AFC North coach moved on… I'd have two nickels, which is not a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.” (03:18)
  • Emphasis that Tomlin wasn’t fired—he stepped down, maintaining the franchise’s dignity and providing a path for Tomlin to possibly return to coaching elsewhere or on TV.

2. Why Now? Organizational Perspective

• The Steelers seemed stuck in a repetitive cycle: decent records, but repeated double-digit playoff losses, and no clear plan at quarterback.
  • Robert Mays: “You have just reached the same end over and over and over again… Even if Mike Tomlin isn't the one to say it, I think it was time to have a conversation with Mike Tomlin about what the future should look like.” (04:53)
• The hosts link the move to a larger organizational need for a reset—possibly through trading assets like T.J. Watt and embracing a youth movement.

3. Tomlin’s Perspective and Legacy

• The show draws parallels with other iconic AFC North coaches, especially John Harbaugh, noting the different flavors of burnout or dead-ends each faced.
  • Dan Kadar: “For the Steelers... you haven't been close to winning a Super Bowl... That's hard to overcome.” (07:00)
• Tomlin’s consistent winning records are praised, but the lack of Super Bowl contention in recent years made a reset logical for both sides.
• Tomlin is expected to either take a year off, move to TV, or eventually return to coaching (possibly via a trade).

4. Roster Situation & Team Future

• Steelers have one of the league's oldest rosters, with recent free agent signings (Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay) indicating a win-now approach that hasn’t paid off.
  • Robert Mays: “If we woke up on January 13, 2027, and the Steelers were one of the five youngest teams in the league, that would not surprise me. And I think that's the direction that they need to go.” (11:00)
• Draft capital noted as a reset tool—5 picks in the top 100 for 2026.
• Potential for big moves like trading T.J. Watt supported as part of a “new leaf” for Pittsburgh.

5. Identifying the Next Head Coach

• The Steelers’ coaching search is especially intriguing given their very limited turnover at the top—just three coaches in over 50 years.
  • Past hires have trended young and defensive-minded, but hosts note this shouldn’t dictate their next move.
• The defensive-heavy candidate pool fits Pittsburgh's DNA, but hosts encourage open-mindedness, possibly toward offensive innovators.
• Robert Mays’ criteria for head coach:
  • Offensive play-caller
  • Success without elite quarterback
  • Multiple years of proven results (17:41)
• No slam-dunk offensive options in this hiring cycle, leading to speculation on names like Brian Flores (former Steelers assistant), Kevin Stefanski, and Chris Shula.

Possible Coaching Candidates Mentioned:

• Brian Flores (ex-DC, ex-Miami HC): Familiar with organization, growth potential, but prior interpersonal struggles noted.
  • “Brian Flores getting another run at this after … seeing it done a very different way … that is something I'd be interested in.” (20:36)
• Chris Shula (Rams DC, Don Shula’s grandson): Young, with Rams/McVay pedigree, and legacy associations.
  • “Don Shula's grandson coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers kind of has a ring to it.” (22:49)
• Questions about offensive innovation: Can they or should they break the defensive mold?

6. Broader AFC North & NFL Impact

• Virtually the entire AFC North has undergone coaching turnover except Cincinnati.
  • Robert Mays: “Mike Tomlin out as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach. Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh in one off season. Felt like it was going to be one or the other. End up being both of them.” (25:10)
• This, along with the Harbaugh and other major firings, creates one of the most intriguing coaching carousels in recent memory.
• The search will test the Steelers’ organizational philosophies and capacity for reinvention.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Kadar (on Steelers' predictability):
  • “At some point this season, somebody tweeted, 'Mike Tomlin will say something like, we can't eat soup with forks.' … and then the Pittsburgh Steelers will sign a 2018 Pro Bowler. Like, that’s who they've been.” (12:25)
• Robert Mays (on roster reset):
  • “Trading somebody like T.J. Watt right now, seeing what you can get for him, and starting to add even more ammunition for when we get to the 2027 draft… that's the place the Steelers should be if you're the Steelers.” (11:00)
• Discussion of Pittsburgh as one of the NFL’s ‘pillar franchises’:
  • “It's not like you have a history you can really look back on… you'd be silly to try to think that that's some sort of blueprint.” (15:51, Dan Kadar)
• On candidate types:
  • “I've developed some pretty—if not strict then generally applicable—criteria when it comes to my position where I want an offensive minded, play calling head coach…” (17:41, Robert Mays)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:30 – Breaking news: Mike Tomlin steps down; initial reactions
• 04:53 – Why this makes sense for both the Steelers and Tomlin—time for a reset
• 06:31 – Comparing Tomlin’s situation to Harbaugh; impact on fan and team psyche
• 08:16 – Nuances between Ravens and Steelers; organizational disconnects vs. roster limitations
• 11:00 – Steelers’ aging roster and need for overhaul; discussion of trading T.J. Watt
• 12:25 – Viral Mike Tomlin/Steelers tweet (“soup with forks”) and what it says about the team
• 13:40 – Quarterback futures and the possible ‘youth movement’
• 15:51-17:41 – Talking head coach archetypes and candidate pool (defensive trend, possible offensive innovations)
• 20:34 – Brian Flores & other candidate speculation
• 22:49 – Chris Shula as an imaginative possibility; legacy and fresh ideas
• 24:44 – Noting near-total AFC North coaching turnover
• 25:10 – Summing up the “end of an era”; what’s next for Pittsburgh

Conclusion

The Steelers’ decision to move on from Mike Tomlin is both the end of a storied run and the beginning of a high-stakes organizational reboot. Both hosts agree it is a mutually beneficial turning point, given the cycle of underwhelming playoff exits and a lack of long-term quarterback prospects. The next coaching search will test whether Pittsburgh clings to its defensive DNA or dares to embrace offensive innovation as it seeks to reclaim contender status. The magnitude of changes across the AFC North and beyond mean this coaching carousel is one of the most compelling in recent NFL history.