One of the biggest questions surrounding the resignation of former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was whether he would return to coaching. That was the case for years with Bill Cowher after he stepped down. With that in mind, the Steelers theoretically could have commanded a significant return in a trade for Tomlin. The belief was that the team held his rights for the next few years if he decided to return to coaching. However, it appears that is not the case. In fact, if he were to return next year, the Steelers would not be entitled to compensation.
Alan Saunders of Steelers Now reported on this speculation after confirming it with sources close to the situation. What may have stood out most from his report was that the Steelers were not expecting any compensation if Tomlin returned to coaching next year.
“A well-placed team source told Steelers Now that the team may have taken a different stance if Tomlin tried to coach for another team in 2026, but they’re not expecting to be able to recoup any draft capital if Tomlin coaches again in the future.” Saunders reported.
How did this information come to the surface?
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Saunders' report confirms the speculation from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio joined 93.7 The Fan and explained his understanding of the situation.
“In the process of figuring that out, at the end of the 2025 season, it became clear to me that once his contract would have otherwise expired, he is free and clear. So if someone had hired him in this cycle, the Steelers would have been entitled to compensation,” Florio detailed. “Next cycle? My understanding is the Steelers are not going to be entitled to anything.”
There has long been an assumption that the Steelers could receive a significant return in the future if Tomlin decided to get back into coaching. He had an excellent debut on NBC during the Hall of Fame Game. Then again, this has always been the case with successful head coaches who retire and try their hand at television. The only ones to return to coaching in recent years were Bruce Arians and Sean Payton.
Could Tomlin follow Arians and Payton’s formula?
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Both coaches spent at least a year away from the NFL. Payton returned after missing the 2022 season, while Arians returned after missing the 2018 season. Neither coach, though, was as highly sought after as Tomlin was. NBC even appeared to part ways with longtime analyst Tony Dungy to bring Tomlin on board. Tomlin has long been expected to build a successful broadcasting career after coaching. Nineteen years is a long time to endure the stress and demands of one of the most pressure-filled jobs in sports.
There’s no doubt this information is disappointing to some fans who were hoping the Steelers could receive a significant haul. However, it is not guaranteed that Tomlin will return to coaching. He could follow Cowher’s path and become comfortable in the broadcast world. It is certainly less pressure-driven, and if Tomlin’s first appearance is any indication, he has a high ceiling in the role after a strong debut.
