Jan. 13, 2026, 3:16 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Steelers and head coach Mike Tomlin have agreed to part ways after 19 seasons. The announcement comes on the heels of another “one-and-done” postseason appearance.
The Steelers lost, 30-6, to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round on Monday night, likely ending the Aaron Rodgers era in Pittsburgh as well.
“During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our Head Coach,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement. “Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication, and success we have shared over the last 19 years.”
The decision opens up a ninth vacancy on the NFL coaching carousel, but any team linking up with Tomlin will likely have to fork over some compensation to the Steelers as part of the deal.
Since the Steelers did not fire Tomlin, they retain the rights to him through the 2027 season by virtue of the three-year extension he signed in 2024.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
The New York Giants are vapor-locked into John Harbaugh at the moment and are not about to pivot to Tomlin until they get closure on their main targets. Tomlin, on the other hand, has not made any public overtures regarding his future plans.
