Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is already using his newfound free time to support his family.
Tomlin — who stepped down from his coaching role following the Steelers’ playoff loss against the Houston Texans — was spotted supporting his daughter, Harley, during her gymnastics meet at the University of Georgia on Friday, January 16, in his first public appearance since leaving coaching.
The former coach was seen rocking a UGA sweatshirt, pumping his fist in celebration of his daughter’s routine.
Harley helped push No. 8 UGA to a big win over the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, LSU.
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Tomlin, 53, stepped away from the Steelers after 19 years at the helm in Pittsburgh. He finished his career with a 193-114-2 record, winning the Super Bowl in 2008, his second year with the team.
In his nearly two decades as head coach, Tomlin never finished a season with a losing record, setting the NFL record for longest streak by a head coach to start his career.
Despite his successes, Tomlin and the Steelers have not won a playoff game since 2016 — losing seven consecutive games in the postseason, including the 30-6 loss to the Texans on Monday, January 12.
After the playoff loss, Tomlin made his decision to step away from coaching in order to spend more time with his family.
“Mike indicated that he did not anticipate coaching at least in the near future,” said Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “I think he wants to spend time with his family and do some of the kinds of things he hasn’t been able to do for the last many, many years. And so if something like that (coaching again) comes up, we’ll deal with it when it comes up, but right now that doesn’t seem to be on his radar.”
Because Tomlin stepped down while still under contract with the Steelers, the team will hold onto his coaching rights and could negotiate a new contract if he decides to return to coaching before the end of the 2027 NFL season.
“While this chapter comes to a close, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change,” Tomlin said in his statement after his resignation. “I am excited for what the future holds for this organization, and I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.”
A report from The Athletic from Thursday, January 15, shared an emotional speech by Tomlin to the players after he made his decision to step down from the position.
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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who Tomlin brought to the Steelers on a one-year contract in an effort to get back to the Super Bowl, reportedly broke down in tears during Tomlin’s speech.
“Mike T’s had more success than damn-near anybody in the league for the last 19-20 years,” Rodgers told reporters after the Wild Card loss. “More than that, though, when you have the right guy and the culture is right, you don’t think about making a change.”
One staff member told The Athletic that the meeting “felt like a funeral.”
“I teared up,” the staff member reportedly said. “It’s like finding out your dad died.”
