For Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, the 2026 NFL season will feel a little empty without Mike Tomlin. Like Tomlin once did, McVay entered the head coaching profession as a young coach who had to prove he was the right man for the job. McVay has done so many times over and credits Tomlin for helping in that process.

He knows the game won’t be the same with Tomlin not manning the sidelines.

“Part of the reasons that I was excited when I was asked to be on the competition committee was to get to know Mike better,” McVay said Monday in an interview on Kay Adams’ Up and Adams. 

The two served on the competition committee for several years, helping vote on new rule changes to improve and make the game safer. Tomlin has been replaced on the committee by Sean Payton and Mike Vrabel (fired Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier also created an opening).

Both men had similar tracks. Undersized and unheralded college wide receivers, Tomlin at William & Mary, McVay at Miami (Ohio). Tomlin became a head coach when he was 34. McVay landed his job just shy of his 31st birthday. The two proved they were the right hires. Tomlin brought Pittsburgh a Super Bowl in his second season. McVay went to one in his second year, losing it, but won his ring in 2021 to nudge out Tomlin as the youngest head coach to hoist a Lombardi. Both have similar win percentages – Tomlin .628, McVay .617.

“Mike Tomlin is one of one, and he’s a stud,” McVay said. “We miss him. Mike was the one that really welcomed a lot of us. I can remember the way he just made me feel so welcomed. He’s got this great feel for the one-liners. Love Mike T. He’s the man.”

A sentiment McVay has held throughout the years. In 2022, McVay cited Tomlin as a key mentor and great leader. In 2025, McVay defended Tomlin amid mounting criticism over his postseason drought.

Now, the two will have different roles. McVay thinks Tomlin will be the one now offering commentary.

“He’s enjoying life, being a dad, being able to have fun. We’ll probably see him doing what you’re doing next year,” McVay told Adams.

Tomlin recently hired a sports agency to represent him for a television job that seems inevitable. It’s unclear what role that will be, probably as a studio analyst, and opinions are mixed if Tomlin will succeed or struggle.

For McVay, the question might be about if Tomlin ever joins the coaching fraternity again. And if so, could Tomlin be hired by an NFC team, Tampa Bay sure makes sense, that would put the two in the same conference for the first time.