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One day after the stunning announcement that Mike Tomlin will step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, team president Art Rooney II addressed the media and provided clarity on Tomlin and the organization’s thinking behind the decision.
Rooney revealed that the franchise was prepared to give Tomlin “another run” in 2026, despite the growing uncertainty surrounding the team’s long-term direction under his leadership. Tomlin, who spent 19 seasons at the helm, was entering the final year of his contract, which reportedly runs through the 2026 season and includes a team option for 2027.
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With Tomlin nearing the end of his deal, the Steelers were approaching a critical juncture that would have required a definitive decision on his future in the near term. Ultimately, Tomlin elected to step away before that decision was forced.
Rooney said he “wasn’t shocked, but I wasn’t expecting that conversation yesterday, either” when it came to Tomlin’s decision. The Steelers’ owner and president also said he believed Tomlin’s decision was “probably more of a family-related decision than a football-related decision,” but said he’d leave the specifics for Tomlin to explain down the road.
While Tomlin will no longer be on the sidelines in Pittsburgh, the Steelers could retain his contractual rights for as long as the next two seasons. As a result, any team interested in hiring Tomlin during the upcoming two coaching cycles would be required to negotiate with — and likely compensate — the Steelers in order to secure his services.
The decision comes on the heels of another disappointing postseason result for Pittsburgh. The Steelers finished the regular season 10–7 before suffering a Wild Card loss to the Houston Texans on Monday night, marking the franchise’s seventh consecutive playoff defeat.
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Tomlin departs as one of the most accomplished coaches in team history, having never recorded a losing season during his 19-year tenure. Now, Rooney and general manager Omar Khan embark in setting up a new era for one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.
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