Mike Tomlin
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Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio argued former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin could be the next John Madden.
Mike Tomlin was pretty good at his job as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin won 193 regular season games and eight more in the playoffs. He led the Steelers to eight division titles, two AFC championships and a Super Bowl title as well.
But it sounds like Mike Florio thinks Tomlin could be even better at his next job in a new career — television.
While appearing on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday, Florio claimed Tomlin could follow in the footsteps of legendary football figure John Madden.
“I personally think he could be the next John Madden if he jumps into the booth, but he could be a guy who’s a revelation in the studio as well,” Florio said, via Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora. “The way he comes up with those sound bites. I think some of his sayings, I don’t know this, I don’t think he’s work shopping it ahead of time.
“I don’t think he’s writing it at night; I think he just comes up with it in the moment. Think he could be great in the right studio setting, and it’s gonna come down to I think where he thinks he fits.”
Similar to Tomlin, Madden experienced a lot of regular season NFL success with one Super Bowl victory. Madden coached for a shorter amount of time. But he posted an incredible 103-32-7 regular season record — all with one team, the Oakland Raiders.
Madden and the Raiders finally broke through in the playoffs during 1976 to win Super Bowl XI.
Tomlin won the Super early in his tenure instead of late as Madden did. But after his coaching career ended, Madden become more famous as an announcer. He also became the face of one of the top video games in the world.
Mike Tomlin the Next John Madden in the Booth?
Madden’s broadcasting career took him to multiple networks as well, which helped his exposure to different audiences and fan bases. Today, he remains a talking point for different networks for that reason.
Tomlin would have a long way to go to reach Madden status. He’s potentially entering the industry later in life as well.
Madden went into television at 43 years old. Tomlin celebrated his 54th birthday this month.
Even if Tomlin announces primetime games, he will face an uphill battle to Madden status.
“Tomlin seems better suited for a studio role than color analyst in the booth,” wrote Kozora. “The broadcasting world lacks legendary color commentators like John Madden.
“With games spread out on so many networks, the pageantry of a primetime contest even has been lost.”
But Florio isn’t alone in believing Tomlin is going to be great on television. And he’s young enough that the former Steelers head coach could experience a decade or more in broadcasting.
Terry Bradshaw is 77 years old and still on the FOX pregame show.
In summary, experts see the sky as the limit for Tomlin in broadcasting.
Tomlin Signs With Sports Agency
Rumors about Tomlin entering the media business surfaced even before the longtime head coach stepped down from his role with the Steelers.
On Tuesday, Front Office Sports’s Ryan Glasspiegel and Michael McCarthy reported Tomlin is officially set to enter the industry.
“The former Steelers head coach has signed with longtime sports media agent Sandy Montag’s agency, sources told Front Office Sports,” wrote Glasspiegel and McCarthy.
Multiple networks could court Tomlin. NBC, FOX Sports and CBS all have openings on their pregame shows.
Seeing Tomlin on the same desk as Bradshaw would be intriguing for Steelers fans. Bradshaw often criticized Tomlin for just being a cheerleader on the Pittsburgh coaching staff.
Ironically, Tomlin’s new agency, Montag, once represented Madden. The group has also represented famous sports broadcasters Mike Tirico, Jim Nantz, James Brown, Scott Van Pelt, and Dick Vitale.