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Pittsburgh Steelers players shared details of Mike Tomlin’s emotional final meeting with the team, and former NFL star JJ Watt challenged the players.
Watt, whose brother TJ Watt is mentioned in the report as also being sad about Tomlin’s departure, felt like the moment could have stayed in the locker room. JJ Watt retweeted a paragraph from The Athletic’s report in which Aaron Rodgers told Tomlin he was sorry, through sobs.
“I feel like this moment could have stayed in the boardroom,” Watt wrote on X.
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JJ Watt (99) of the Arizona Cardinals runs onto the field during player introductions before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on January 8, 2023. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
TJ Watt has always been a staunch defender of Tomlin, even saying during his contract negotiations that he didn’t want to play for anyone other than the longtime head coach. As Tomlin told the team he was retiring, Watt repeatedly said, “No,” as his eyes filled with tears.
JJ Watt added that he would have preferred that the people in the room kept the intimate details to themselves instead of sharing them.
This meeting was the last of Tomlin’s tenure with the Steelers. In 19 seasons, Tomlin went 193-114-2 and won the AFC North eight times, appearing in the Super Bowl twice and winning once.
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt (90) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on January 4, 2026. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
It is unclear if Tomlin wants to coach next season or if he wants to take a season off. The 53-year-old is coveted by a litany of television networks that have expressed interest in hiring him as an analyst, according to The Athletic.
The Steelers, in only their fourth head coaching search since 1969, have already completed interviews or scheduled interviews with the following candidates, according to multiple reports:
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) leave the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Maryland on December 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Stéphanie Scarbrough)
Nate Scheelhaase – Los Angeles Rams Passing Game Coordinator
Chris Shula – Rams defensive coordinator
Anthony Weaver – Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator
Jesse Minter – Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator
Brian Flores – Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
Ejiro Evero – Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator
Jeff Hafley – Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator
Klay Kubiak – San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator
