It's hard to believe but it was three years ago when rumors were running rampant about Mike Tomlin leaving the Steelers. Several media outlets claimed he could jump ship from Pittsburgh to join the college ranks as USC's head coach. That never happened but it led to one of the best quotes during Tomlin's tenure.
Tomlin is passionate about being the Steelers head coach, and he made sure this was abundantly clear.
“I don’t have time for that speculation,” Tomlin said when speaking to the media on October 2021. “That’s a joke to me. I’ve got one of the best jobs in all of professional sport, why would I have any interest in coaching college football? That’ll be the last time I address it. And not only today, but moving forward. Never say never, but never.”
Tomlin was stern during that answer, but credit to the media for at least asking him at the time. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows in Pittsburgh during that moment. They were struggling, which is the opposite of what the Steelers are doing nowadays. Tomlin might love his spot where he is, but that doesn't mean that things could change down the line.
Reports are starting to trickle out that Bill Belichick is finalizing a deal to become the next Head coach of the University of North Carolina. It is something no one had on their radar for the future Hall of Famer. Everyone thought he was holding out for an NFL job, but those opportunities seemed to have soured on him. Now Belichick has the opportunity to prove Tomlin and other NFL coaches wrong.
Many believe Belichick is one of, if not the best coaches in NFL history. His going to college football could be a perfect platform for him to change how universities run their programs. It seems like he will try and structure their team with a similar flare that NFL clubs house. It will be an odd transition for the 72-year-old, but he could find success with players chasing the name he carries.
Tomlin would never leave the Steelers gig, and it is unlikely they would ever let him go as long as he wants to stay. He remains one of the best coaches in the NFL, and he is in the middle of a potential Coach of the Year run. Going to college is far from his mind, but if Belichick succeeds during his time with North Carolina, then perhaps Tomlin and other NFL coaches would take those offers seriously.
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Those 'boosters' that Tomlin was talking about had a big enough check to bring Belichick in. It is odd as many don't understand how the old-timer will be able to recruit high school and college players to join his program. He is either banking on his resume to entice them, or he will have others recruiting on his behalf. This will either go great for Belichick, or he will fumble the opportunity.
I'm not saying that if Belichick is a monumental success in North Carolina, then Tomlin and others will jump ship over to college; he won't. But it will keep those cans of worms open for him down the line. Most NFL coaches don't want to deal with the recruiting aspect of college football.
If Belichick finds a way to slide that responsibility to another person, then it could create new hires in the future.