Head coach Mike Tomlin's family received racist abuse after the Pittsburgh Steelers' most recent loss, and his family has taken to social media to call for the hateful messages to stop
02:00 ET, 13 Nov 2025Updated 02:01 ET, 13 Nov 2025
Mike Tomlin
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Mike and Kiya Tomlin has been married for 28 years(Image: Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers started the 2025 NFL season well, but have slumped in recent weeks. A 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football dropped the team to 5-4 after a 4-1 start.
The Baltimore Ravens' return to form means Pittsburgh's lead atop the AFC North has dropped to just a single game. Steelers fans are beginning to get testy, and one crossed the line, and have started taking their anger out on head coach Mike Tomlin's daughter.
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The person in question sent Harley Tomlin an explicit email, writing: "I hope your dad ------- dies" after a racially charged remark. Tomlin's wife, Kiya, shared the message on her Instagram story, adding, "Just a typical Monday after a loss." Attention on the Steelers this year has been particularly magnified following the addition of future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
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Kiya Tomlin added to her message: “It truly sounds as though you are in need of some positivity and inspiration in your life."
“We aim to offer messages of hope, inspiration, and motivation that might encourage you to move beyond being a racist sideline critic and focus on making a relevant, positive contribution in your own life.”
Mike Tomlin
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Tomlin's Steelers were blown out against the Chargers(Image: Getty Images)
Harley followed up on TikTok. -ok “It truly sounds as though you are in need of some positivity and inspiration in your life,” she wrote.
Steelers lose again
Tomlin wasn't praiseworthy of himself or his team after the loss to Los Angeles. "We stunk it up tonight,” he candidly told the media postgame.
Rodgers threw for just 161 yards in yet another risk-averse game from offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The veteran signal caller has not topped 250 passing yards in a single game this season.
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"You’re not going to win football games by not converting third downs and losing the turnover battle,” Tomlin added of the team's defeat. “We certainly were loose with the ball in several instances and didn’t convert enough third downs, and so that’s the end result. It’s nothing mystical about it.
Pittsburgh will look to get back in the win column with a home matchup against the division rival Cincinnati Bengals. Joe Flacco will face the Steelers for the second time this season (he played against Pittsburgh earlier in the year while a member of the Cleveland Browns).
Tomlin needs four four wins in the next eight games to keep his remarkable streak of 18 straight seasons with a .500 record or better.