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Mike Tomlin’s decision to step down after a blowout loss in the AFC Wild Card round has thrust the Steelers into an unusual coaching search.
Tomlin did not specify the reason for his withdrawal in a statement released Tuesday, but he thanked owner Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and confidence over nearly two decades.
“Even though this chapter is coming to an end, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change. I am excited about what the future holds for this organization and will always be grateful for my time as coach in Pittsburgh,” Tomlin concluded in the release.
Rooney II and Omar Khan will oversee the coaching search, with Rooney calling Tomlin’s decision unexpected but not surprising.
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Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II and head coach Mike Tomlin before their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 23, 2018; New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports)
“It was his decision, and I will say I wasn’t shocked, but I also didn’t expect this conversation yesterday,” Rooney said. “…I was definitely ready to do it again next year with Mike, and that was what I expected to talk about yesterday, but it went in a different direction.”
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Tomlin has two years remaining on his contract with the Steelers, and any team looking to hire him before 2027 would have to compensate Pittsburgh. Rooney acknowledged Tomlin’s poor coaching prospects later this year and provided additional context on his departure, saying it centered around his personal life.
Pittsburgh Steelers owner and team president Art Rooney II looks on before a game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
“Mike has indicated he has no plans to coach in the near future,” Rooney said. “I think he wants to spend time with his family and do things that he hasn’t been able to do in recent years. So if something like that happens, we’ll deal with it when it happens, but it doesn’t seem to be something on his radar.”
Rooney said he, Khan and other key decision-makers would take an open-minded approach to this rare coaching search.
“I have been involved in a number of searches since Coach [Bill] Cowher and GM searches,” Rooney said, recalling his past coaching search experiences. “I think if I’ve learned anything about searches, it’s to have an open mind. We welcomed Mike in for his first interview, and we certainly didn’t expect him to be our head coach. I think you have to go through the process, do your due diligence and hopefully find the right person.”
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, right, stands on the sideline during the first half of an NFL playoff game against the Houston Texans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 12, 2026. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo)
Asked what qualities he will look for in candidates, Rooney said leadership is at the top of the list.
“I think there are a lot of things that go into being a successful head coach,” Rooney said. “Number 1 in my mind is leadership and having confidence in that person who can get in front of the team day in and day out, hold their attention and motivate them to do what they do. That’s the most important thing.”
After beating the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 to clinch the AFC North and the final spot in the NFL playoffs, the Steelers scored just six points in Monday’s loss to the Houston Texans.
