The Ringer Fantasy Football Show — January 14, 2026

Episode: Mike Tomlin Steps Down! Steelers' Next Steps, and Hottest Coaches Available

Episode Overview

Danny Heifetz, Danny Kelly, and Craig Horlbeck dive deep into the shocking news that Mike Tomlin is stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 uninterrupted seasons without a losing record. The hosts discuss Tomlin’s legacy, the state and future of the Steelers, coaching philosophy shifts in the NFL, Tomlin’s prospective landing spots, and the current head coaching carousel. The episode is emotional yet lively, blending sincere reflection with the signature Ringer banter listeners love.

1. Mike Tomlin’s Departure: Mixed Emotions and Legendary Legacy

[01:29–07:56]

• Craig’s Initial Reaction as a Steelers Fan

  • “I feel conflicted because I think this is the right move and yet I'm really sad. I feel like Tomlin has become a punchline... but I don't know man. Tomlin didn't have a losing season for 19 years... that is absolutely incredible to me.” — Craig Horlbeck [01:45]
  • Emphasizes Tomlin as the "coolest coach" and a true mentor/motivator.
  • Sees it as the right football move, noting “things are going stale,” but expresses reverence for Tomlin’s tenure.

• Comparisons to Other Legendary Coaches Leaving

  • Danny Kelly likens this moment to Pete Carroll’s departure from Seattle, emphasizing how such coaches become father figures for their teams and cities, providing “a floor” of respectability and competitiveness: “It's almost like a father figure. It's like he's a guiding light figure for the city in a lot of ways.” — Danny Kelly [04:25]

• The Unprecedented Run

  • “Tomlin was able to do, since the pandemic, basically with 39 year old Ben Roethlisberger, with Duck Hodges, with Mason Rudolph, with Kenny Pickett, with Russell Wilson, with Justin Fields, with 42 year old Aaron Rodgers... never had a losing season with all those quarterbacks. Like, that is impressive.” — Craig Horlbeck [03:19]

• Steelers Stability

  • Only three coaches since 1969 — Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, Mike Tomlin — one of the most stable franchises in the NFL.

2. Evaluating Tomlin’s Tenure: Floor Raiser vs. Stagnation

[07:56–16:11]

• Legendary Quotes & Cool Factor

  • “He was just so cool, man. Like, the quotes, like, everything. The vibe, like, I kind of miss him already.” — Danny Heifetz [10:07]

• Unmatched Stability, Under-discussed Downside

  • Never a losing season, but extended playoff futility:
    • “Last time the Steelers won a playoff game, Barack Obama was president... TikTok was not available in America.” — Danny Heifetz [23:31]
    • Six straight one-and-dones in the playoffs; trailed by 21+ in all.

• Where Did It Go Wrong?

  • Lack of adaptation/offensive innovation.
    • Julian Edelman: “The Steelers did what they did. You knew exactly what they were doing every time. And they still do what they do.” [13:31]
  • Outdated defensive schemes; poor coordinator hires and refusal to modernize offensively and defensively.

• The 'Purgatory' Dilemma

  • Making the playoffs but not contending for championships; fans asking if it’s better to suffer a total rebuild than remain eternally mid-tier.
  • “In theory, it’s nice to be like, man, it'd be nice to win Super Bowls. I feel like you're just looking up because you're like, I want out of purgatory because I'll get to heaven. And my question for you is, are you actually prepared for the potential of the Steelers going to football hell?” — Danny Heifetz [24:41]
  • "I'm tickled that they made the playoffs. They didn't even, you know what I mean?" — Craig [28:21], reflecting the resigned emotional state of the Steelers' fanbase.

3. The NFL’s Coaching Evolution: Adaptation vs. Philosophy

[16:11–21:14]

• Old School vs. New School

  • Pete Carroll/Tomlin parallels; “run the ball, play good defense, don’t turn it over”—no longer enough.
  • “At the end of the day, like you have to adhere to what you believe gives you the best chance to win games...” — Danny Kelly [16:16]
  • Citing McVay as the gold standard for modern, adaptive coaching: “When you think of the Sean McVay offense, what is it? It’s been like three or four different things since he got hired. That's what makes him so great.” — Danny Kelly [18:35]
  • Ghost of Tsushima analogy: the philosophical clash between “winning your way” and adapting to survive [19:25]

• Why Coaches Struggle to Turn the Page

  • Tenure brings message fatigue and stubbornness.
  • Organs don’t replace franchise QBs (e.g. Ben Roethlisberger to Pickett) or offensive ideas.

4. Mike Tomlin’s Future: TV? Coaching Carousel?

[07:56, 29:17–34:42]

• Still a Hot Commodity

  • Tomlin is just 53; “20 years younger than Pete Carroll.”
  • “Mike Tomlin can go and have a 15-year coaching career somewhere else.” — Danny Heifetz [07:04]

• Rumored TV Career

  • “Tomlin would be the best broadcaster we have. They should double his salary compared to Tom Brady’s because he would be immediately the best color guy... He would be incredible.” — Craig Horlbeck [07:31]

• Possible Destinations

  • Potential fit for any of nine open jobs: Steelers, Ravens, Giants, Raiders, Titans, Falcons, Dolphins, Cardinals, Browns [30:20]
  • Giants presented as most likely suitor if Tomlin wants to return immediately: family ties with the Rooneys, institutional respect.
  • Likelihood Tomlin takes a year off in media before hand-picking his next gig.

• Should the Giants Trade for Tomlin?

  • Debated; Sean Payton went for draft picks; Giants in “no position to turn him down.” — Danny Heifetz [34:09]
  • Uncertainty around Steelers letting him out of his contract—could depend on destination.

5. Steelers’ Future: Coaching Candidates & Job Appeal

[37:00–42:36]

• How Attractive Is the Steelers Job?

  • Lacks franchise QB; organizational stability and history are selling points, but GM/ownership power and expectations are factors [38:19].
  • “They literally have... Are they the most dire quarterback situation in the NFL right now?” — Craig [38:34]

• Coaching Search Philosophy

  • Steelers have only hired head coaches age 38 or younger for decades [41:07].
  • Names thrown out: Mike McDaniel, Chris Shula, Jesse Minter, Jeff Hafley, Anthony Campanile; desire for a young “cutting-edge” offensive mind but the team’s history with culture-focused hires.
  • Difficulty following a legend: “The pressure of firing Tomlin is huge... You don’t want to be the guy to follow the guy.” — Danny Heifetz [39:14]

6. Giants, Dolphins, Others: Judging Candidates and Scheme Fit

[42:15–45:48]

• Debate: Floor-Raising Vet vs. Scheme Innovator

  • “Is it obviously better to get an offensive guy for Jackson Dart?... Isn't that a weird thing to kind of invite for the future of your team?” — Danny Heifetz [43:44]
  • Assessing the risk of hiring Tomlin for stability vs. going for a McDaniel-type for offensive upside, even with potential media/fan challenges.

• Coordinator/Staff Dynamics

  • Can Tomlin be paired with a strong, modern OC? Does the Giants’ front office have the savvy to make such pairings effective?

7. Coach Carousel: Top Names and Ideal Pairings

[46:09–59:24]

• Chris Shula and the Sean McVay Coaching Tree

  • Rams’ defensive performance boosting Shula’s stock; McVay’s network now yielding defensive head coaching prospects.

• Best OC Jobs

  • Commanders (with Jaden Daniels), Lions (no current OC), Chargers (work with Justin Herbert) seen as ideal coordinator gigs. [53:19]
  • “If you want to skate to where the puck is heading. You would take the Chargers job… Justin Herbert is actually the Mr. Unlimited.” — Danny Heifetz [54:03]

• Mike McDaniel’s Career Fork

  • Could serve as a top OC, wait for top coaching opportunities instead of taking a poor fit head job.

8. Steelers & Giants: Final Coaching Wish Lists

[57:59–59:18]

• Craig, as a Steelers fan, rules out Harbaugh (“I don't want the Ravens coach. Just like I don’t want LeBron on the Warriors”), expresses a desire for cutting-edge offensive play calling:

  • “Something about getting somebody who is truly at the cutting edge of offensive play calling, feels nice and refreshing.” — Craig [58:25]
  • “If this person's over 50 years old, I'm going to be upset.” [59:18]

• Heifetz (as a Giants fan) — ranks Tomlin first, Harbaugh second, McDaniel third, then Stefanski, then Chris Shula.

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Craig on Tomlin's Enduring Impact:
  "He is the quintessential coach coach... Tomlin is like what you think of when you look up what a coach is in the dictionary." [01:45]

• On NFL Coaching Philosophy: “It’s closer to a marriage at some point than it is to a business relationship after two decades.” — Danny Heifetz [10:07]

• Craig on Steelers Fan Resignation: “I can't complain. I'm tickled that they made the playoffs. They didn't even... you know what I mean?” [28:21]

• Heifetz's Warning: "Are you actually prepared for the potential of the Steelers going to football hell?" [24:41]

• On Coach Longevity:
  “Coaches shouldn't be in a job more than 10 years because just the, the message starts to get stale.” — Danny Kelly, quoting Marty Schottenheimer [21:16]

10. Fun & Offbeat Segment

[61:09–66:47]

• “Antidepressant or Tolkien Character?” Mini-Game
  • The trio try to guess whether a name is that of a Lord of the Rings character or an antidepressant, celebrating recent NFL news and poking fun at drug commercial side effects. [Starting at ~61:09]
  • Includes pop culture asides about Lord of the Rings, Spongebob Squarepants, and the surprising Britishness of American TV actors.

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Tomlin’s Departure & Legacy | 01:29–07:56 | | Evaluating Tomlin’s Tenure (Pro & Con) | 07:56–16:11 | | NFL Coaching Philosophy, Evolution | 16:11–21:14 | | Tomlin’s Future: TV or Next NFL Stop | 29:17–34:42 | | Steelers’ Future & Job Appeal | 37:00–42:36 | | Giants, Dolphins, Coordinator Fits | 42:15–45:48 | | Coaching Carousel: Top Names, Openings | 46:09–59:24 | | Steelers/Giants: Coaching Wish Lists | 57:59–59:18 | | “Antidepressant or Tolkien” Mini-Game | 61:09–66:47 |

Final Thoughts

The episode delivers a comprehensive, nostalgic, and nuanced reflection on an era-defining NFL coaching figure. It frames Tomlin’s departure as both necessary and deeply bittersweet, explores the evolution of the head coach role in today’s NFL, and previews the wild ride of the coming coaching carousel with the wit, insight, and football nerdery that make The Ringer Fantasy Football Show beloved by fantasy and NFL fans alike.

Not to miss: heartfelt testimonials, banter about future coaching hires, and a masterful analogy between coaching philosophy and samurai warfare.