Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made his 2026 NFL pregame show debut ahead of the Carolina Panthers-Arizona Cardinals matchup in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night. During the broadcast, it didn’t take long for Tomlin to address his successor for his old job — Mike McCarthy.
Tomlin shared a very positive response to McCarthy becoming the Steelers next head coach.
“I know a little bit about the Steelers situation, to say the least. Mike’s perfect for them, and they’re perfect for Mike,” said Tomlin, via Steelers Depot. “Certainly being a Pittsburgh native, he understands the standard that is Pittsburgh, and he’ll embrace that. His coaching experience will also allow him to manage that. He’s got an awesome resume.
“Obviously, the confetti’s rained down on him before with his current quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Man, there’s no substitute for success. Man, those waters run deep. He’s positioned to do well.
“Certainly, there’s some challenges when you come into a new situation, but boy, there’s a lot to like about continuity in this new experience for him.”
The Steelers hired McCarthy on January 24. That was about a week and a half after Tomlin resigned following 19 seasons.
Mike Tomlin Addresses Mike McCarthy Becoming Steelers Head Coach
GettyFormer Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed Mike McCarthy replacing him during his first pregame show on NBC.
Tomlin briefly made a broadcasting appearance for NBC Sports in late April. That interview, though, focused mostly on whether or not Aaron Rodgers would return to the Steelers.
This was the first time Tomlin addressed his replacement in Pittsburgh.
Ironically, McCarthy (and Rodgers) defeated Tomlin in his last Super Bowl appearance. That came in February 2011. After that game, Tomlin’s Steelers routinely exited the postseason early.
After his departure, a lot of pundits criticized the Steelers for hiring McCarthy. But as Tomlin pointed out, McCarthy has the resume to match the team’s roster experience.
McCarthy, who is a Pittsburgh native, owns a 174-112-2 all-time head coaching record. More importantly, he’s worked with a variety of quarterbacks dating back to his first NFL coaching gig in 1993.
Tomlin famously never suffered a losing season in Pittsburgh. He finished with 193 victories, which tied Chuck Noll’s regular season mark with the franchise. Tomlin also went 8-12 in the postseason.
Tomlin Delivers Message on Start to Broadcasting Career
When Tomlin stepped down as Steelers head coach, there was a lot of chatter about what he would do next. The pundits who predicted he would join a television broadcast proved to be correct.
Tomlin delivered a message of excitement on X just prior to his debut Thursday night.
“Excited and proud to be part of this winning team,” wrote Tomlin. “Let’s go.”
Despite his long tenure with the Steelers, Tomlin is only 54 years old. Similar to Bill Cowher a generation ago when he stepped down as Steelers head coach, Tomlin will surely get linked to openings in the coming months and years — as long as he remains in broadcasting.
For now, though, he fits naturally on the television set.
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