With Mike Tomlin stepping down from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this offseason, there’s been a lot of talk about he will do in the future. Whether it’s taking a media job, spending more time with his family, or re-entering the NFL after a season, there have been plenty of ideas floated about Tomlin’s next move. One of his former players doesn’t think that coaching again is in the cards for Tomlin. Appearing on The Fan Morning Show on 93.7 The Fan, former Steelers OT Zach Banner, who recently announced his retirement and intention to start a media career, firmly believes that Tomlin won’t coach again.
“Best head coach I’ve ever played for, at least I should say that, is by far Mike Tomlin, at all levels, college and pro, and I’m just gonna miss him,” Banner said. “I’ll be shocked if he takes a job anytime soon. I’ll be shocked if he ever coaches in the NFL again. Because everybody who knows him knows what this city meant to him, knows the kind of guy he is, and buying into the program where he is and living and immersing himself into the city.”
It’s hard to envision Tomlin coaching another team, but he’s someone who’s talked repeatedly about his love for the profession and the camaraderie and everything that goes into coaching in the NFL. While he’ll take this year off, I don’t think it would surprise too many people if Tomlin got the coaching bug again. The interesting scenario with him re-entering coaching is if he does so next offseason, the Steelers will still hold his rights and could trade him for draft pick compensation.
The NFL is a grind, and Tomlin was at it for 19 seasons. Maybe a year at home and spending time with his family makes him realize that he doesn’t have any desire to get back into that grind. That’s what Banner seems to think will be the case, and Rich Eisen seems to believe that media could be the next step for Tomlin.
There’s no doubt he would make a lot of money if he joined a network that would assume some level of risk by giving him a contract if he does opt to coach again. But that does seem to be a likely outcome, especially with Tomlin not coaching next season.
There will be no shortage of suitors if Tomlin expresses a desire to re-enter the coaching profession, but for now, his next move is anyone’s guess.
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