Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made his 2026 debut for NBC during Thursday night's Hall of Fame Game. It didn't take very long for fans to applaud the Super Bowl champion's work.
Tomlin had an exceptional run with the Steelers that lasted 19 years. He won a Super Bowl, made 13 playoff appearances and had an overall record of 193-114-2. After stepping down from his role in January, he made the decision to join NBC's broadcast crew for "Football Night in America."
“I just thought it’d be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it, players, coaches, executives, and excited about doing that on Sunday night and traveling to different venues and getting that feel for the environment,” Tomlin said, via ESPN. “And lastly, I just thought it’d be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers. I love to talk football. And so that’s just an exciting component for me. I got to admit, though, there’s going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety. It’s good to be uncomfortable, the growth associated with that. And so man, I’m fired up about it.”
© Barry Reeger-Imagn Images.
During the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night, Tomlin wore a Chris Johnson jersey while in the booth with Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico. It was sadly announced earlier this year that Johnson has been diagnosed with ALS.
Most NFL fans applauded Tomlin for paying respect to Johnson on national television.
"That's a solid touch. Those gestures land different when they’re not forced," one fan commented.
"Good on him. Best of luck to Chris in his fight against ALS," a second fan wrote on X.
"Class act, Coach T. Much respect for representing CJ2K like that," another fan said.
CJ2K will be honored this season.
Johnson played in the NFL from 2008-2017, rushing for 9,651 yards and 55 touchdowns. He led the NFL in rushing in 2009 when he had 2,006 yards on 358 carries.
The Tennessee Titans have already announced that Johnson will be formally inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor on Sept. 13 during their season opener.
“Chris Johnson holds a special place in the hearts of our organization and our fans,” Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in statement today. “His stats speak for themselves, and he will forever remain a leader in our record books, but the man behind the yardage deserves just as much celebration. We look forward to welcoming him home on Sept. 13 and officially inducting him into the Titans Ring of Honor.”
We're wishing Johnson and his family all the best.
