Former head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Tomlin he is already using his new free time to support his family.
Tomlin, who stepped down from his coaching role after the Steelers’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans, was seen supporting his daughter. Harleyduring her gymnastics meet at the University of Georgia on Friday, January 16, in her first public appearance since leaving practice.
The old coach has been seen rocking a UGA hoodie, pumping his fist in celebration of her daughter’s routine.
Harley helped push No. 8 UGA to a big win over the nation’s No. 2 team, LSU.
Tomlin, 53, walked 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 a head coach, Tomlin never finished a season with a losing record, setting the NFL record for longest hitting 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 straight in the postseason, including a 30-6 loss to the Texans on Monday, January 12.
After the playoff loss, Tomlin made the decision to stop coaching to spend more time with his family.
Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers
Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images“Mike indicated that he did not expect to coach at least for the foreseeable future,” the Steelers owner and president said Art Rooney IIaccording to ESPN Brooke Pryor. “I think he wants to spend time with his family and do some of the things he hasn’t been able to do for the last many, many years. And so if something like that (training again) comes up, we’ll deal with it when it comes out, but right now it doesn’t seem like it’s on his radar.”
Because Tomlin resigned while still under contract with the Steelers, the team will retain 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 is over, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change,” Tomlin said in his statement following his resignation. “I am excited for what the future holds for this organization and will be forever grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.”
A report of The Athletic from Thursday, Jan. 15, shared Tomlin’s emotional speech to the players after he made his decision to step down.
The quarterback Aaron Rodgersthat Tomlin brought to the Steelers on a one-year deal in an effort to return to the Super Bowl, according to reports. broke down in tears during Tomlin’s speech.
“Mike T’s had more success than damn near anybody in the league over the last 19-20 years,” Rodgers told reporters after the Wild Card loss. “More than that, though, when you have the right man and the culture is right, you don’t think about making a change.”
A staff member said The Athletic that the meeting “felt like a funeral.”
“I cried,” the staff member said. “It’s like finding out your father died.”