Mike Tomlin coached hundreds of players during his 19 seasons as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. So the news of his departure from the team on Tuesday caused a stir among some of those players.
Here’s what they, and prominent media members, had to say on social media:
Former safety Ryan Clark, who played for the Steelers from 2006-13 and now serves as an NFL analyst, said watching the Steelers and Ravens next year would remind him of “Stranger Things.”
“Watching Baltimore vs Pittsburgh will feel like the upside down next year,” he wrote on X.
I get it. Trust me I do, but I’m sad to see Mike T go. Sometime change is needed for everyone. Job well done big brother!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 13, 2026
Former offensive lineman Trai Essex, who played for the Steelers from 2005-11, said the move didn’t surprise him, but it still left him in shock.
“Holy (expletive). It happened,” Essex wrote on X. “Not gonna lie, as much as I’m not surprised that it happened, I’m still in shock.”
On The Snap Count podcast, former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch said he had believed Tomlin would be back next season.
“I truly didn’t feel that the Rooneys, or at least their history is that they don’t fire coaches and allow them to sit home and collect checks,” Batch said. “They just don’t do that.”
BREAKING: Mike Tomlin is OUT in Pittsburgh after 19 seasons – LIVE REACTION from @TraiDay79 & @CharlieBatch16 #HereWeGo https://t.co/l27k0JMgP7
— The Snap Count (@SnapCountShow) January 13, 2026
Former cornerback Bryant McFadden, who played for the Steelers from 2005-08 and 2010-11, called it a sad day and said his group chat with other former Steelers is “going crazy.”
“Clearly he felt like he needed to refresh and do something different,” McFadden said.
“It’s a sad day … clearly he felt like he needed to refresh and do something different.”
Two-time Super Bowl champion with the Steelers @BMac_SportsTalk reacts to the Mike Tomlin news. pic.twitter.com/WajKWOPhXD
— NFL on CBS ???? (@NFLonCBS) January 13, 2026
Former wide receiver Antonio Brown, who played for the Steelers from 2010-18, predicted a new job — within the AFC North — for Tomlin.
Mike Tomlin to the Ravens ????⬛
— AB (@AB84) January 13, 2026
NFL Network’s Rich Eisen, a noted fan of Tomlin, lauded what Tomlin meant to the Steelers organization.
“You know how I feel about Mike Tomlin. The number of times that I’ve caped for this man and hearing from Pittsburgh, Pa., that he should be gone, it’s time, his time has run its course, it’s over — you’ve now gotten what you want,” Eisen said. “And same thing with Ravens fans. Unbelievably that that game between the Ravens and the Steelers, both coaches that we were wondering if they would be back, now neither of them are.”
???? BREAKING NEWS ????
MIKE TOMLIN STEPS DOWN AS #HEREWEGO HEAD COACH
WOW!!#NFL #NFLPLAYOFFS pic.twitter.com/aCVwbJhUMR
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 13, 2026
FS1 commentator Colin Cowherd predicted former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski would be the next coach of the Steelers, but agreed with Tomlin’s decision to part way with the Steelers.
“I think it’s time,” he said. “I think Pittsburgh needs a reset as an organization.”
“I think it’s time. I think Pittsburgh needs a reset as an organization.”@colincowherd reacts to news that Mike Tomlin is stepping down as Steelers head coach pic.twitter.com/RbzohHC4Jl
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) January 13, 2026
ESPN insider Adam Schefter doesn’t think Tomlin will be coaching anytime soon.
“My sense is that he is going to go into television, that there’ll be any number of opportunities that await him,” Schefter said on ESPN.
Adam Schefter: “My sense is that [Mike Tomlin] is going to go into television.” ????????????️ #NFL pic.twitter.com/92t5zM0gHr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 13, 2026
ESPN’s Pat McAfee, a Plum native and former Indianapolis Colts punter, called it a new era for Pittsburgh.
“In Pittsburgh, this is wild to think about,” McAfee said.
“Thank you to Coach Tomlin for what he did for the city of Pittsburgh..
He’s a great football coach and I think Steelers fans will be optimistic about the future” ~ @ToneDigz #PMSLive https://t.co/aoFhFD4yJW pic.twitter.com/kUSBKcpW3k
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 13, 2026
