SCB Steelers Hot Reads – The Tomlin Fallout

January 14, 2026

Hey Steelers Fans. Welcome to Wednesday.

The Kickoff

It’s been really interesting – and often not surprising – to see some of the reactions around Steeler Nation and the national media in regards to Mike Tomlin stepping down. Some celebrated it with the same enthusiasm they had when they won their fantasy league title while others took a much more measured response. I found some to be almost offended that Tomlin had stepped down. They immediately placed blame on fans.

You people that wanted Tomlin gone. Okay. You got your wish.

Now let’s see how it goes.#YouPeople
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) January 13, 2026

First of all, who is “you people?” Secondly, why does every other team get to move on from coaches who don’t produce in the postseason yet somehow the Steelers aren’t allowed to?

Talk about an awful take…

The #Steelers coaching job is attractive for one reason, the proven patience of the organization.

The roster, quarterback, overpriced defense, and unrealistic expectations (no one would’ve won a playoff game with this team) make this among the least desirable of the openings.
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 13, 2026

Does Greeny realize that the roster is going to change? It’s likely going to change dramatically and no Steelers’ fan in their right mind is expecting a super bowl next year. The transition will take time and unrealistic expectations? Why is wanting to win in the postseason “unrealistic?” Greeny needs to worry about the Jets and not us.

And then there’s this guy.

All you do is talk about how important QB play is. Here’s a coach who’s had subpar QB play for all but 1 of his 19 seasons as head coach and has still found a way to be a threat to opposing teams. The narrative on success in football so faulty, how u hate someone that never lost?
— Rashard Mendenhall (@R_Mendenhall) January 13, 2026

Keep in mind that Mendenhall has no love for Ben Roethlisberger… However, the comment “how u hate someone that never lost?” I don’t even know where to go with such a dumb question.

Moving On…

I threw together another episode of our short-form podcast “The Inside Blitz” last night. I essentially touched on a lot of the surface issues of Mike Tomlin stepping aside. The SCB Steelers Podcast on Thursday at 10pmET will be much more of a deep dive.

His Future

It has already been reported several times that Tomlin will not coach in 2026. Most believe he would be an excellent television personality and that he could very well go on to do what Bill Cowher has done. I see it a bit differently. Tomlin is a grinder. He’s a football lifer that loves everything that goes into being a coach. I think he coaches again but who knows?

How It Affects Current Players?

There’s already been lots of chatter about how this could affect guys like Cam Heyward or T.J. Watt or even Aaron Rodgers and the decision he faces. I would suggest we go back to a very famous phrase from Mike Tomlin himself; “Volunteers not Hostages.” Tomlin had no problem releasing players who didn’t want to be there. While he may be gone, that mantra still applies. I don’t see the front office standing in the way of anyone seeking a trade or a release. No one is bigger than the franchise.

The Short List

If we look at the very limited past history, the Steelers have been very specific when they look for a head coach. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin were all defensive coordinators before becoming the Steelers’ head coach. They also had experience coaching other areas like defensive backs, special teams or linebackers. All three were also in their 30’s at the time of their hiring. Noll was 37, while neither Cowher nor Tomlin had hit 35 years of age yet. With those things in mind, it would seem to narrow their list (assuming they follow the same pattern) quite a bit.

Chris Shula – Currently the DC for the LA Rams is 39. He has several interviews already scheduled with other teams.
Brian Flores – Currently DC for MN is 44. Time in New England speaks for itself. Had a year in PIT so he’s a known commodity.
Jesse Minter – Currently the DC for the LA Chargers is 42. He has interviews lined up but his baggage from coaching at Michigan is a concern.
Chris Harris – Currently the DC for the NYJ is 43. The Jets stink but defense hasn’t always been the problem. He also had a nice NFL career.
Nick Rallis – ‘Currently’ the DC for AZ. Just 32 but was LB Coach for Philly in for two years and came with Gannon when he got the HC job for the Cards.

Personally? I like taking a hard look at some of the offensive coaching talent around the league and there is plenty of it. Clint Kubiak for one is a guy I would be very intrigued by.

Random Reads

ESPN’s Josina Anderson claims that Tomlin felt “unappreciated.” It appears that those who unappreciated him were the minority owners of the club. This is something I’ve heard for years so it isn’t surprising… Much has been made about a long-time Jacksonville reporter heaping praise on Jags’ Coach Liam Coen following the loss Sunday. Some in the media felt this was inappropriate behavior by a journalist. My feeling? Who cares? She was given her time and chose to do that rather than ask a question. Is what it is… Yes, Mike Tomlin will be in the Hall of Fame. He’s ninth all-time in wins and has a Super Bowl win… I always get a kick out of fans who want former players to become their team’s head coach just because they had a great playing career.

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