Many view former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin as a players’ coach because of the respect many players bestow on him. A look behind the scenes shows that Tomlin ran a tight ship, and two unnamed players learned the hard way in their first day of OTAs.

Eric Wilson of the National Scouting Combine posted a video of former Steeler David Arnold telling the story as a word of warning to future players.

“I go to OTAs with Pittsburgh all the time. And I hear Coach Tomlin talk. And we’re in an OTA meeting, one of the first meetings that they had,” Arnold said. “Hear a knock on the door. There’s a guy standing at the door. Two free agents, late. ‘So-and-so, take their playbooks.’ They’re done. Day 1 of OTAs, they come two minutes late. Wasn’t even two minutes but the door was shut. Coach Tomlin had begun to talk. They’re wasting that team’s time.”

Arnold was a defensive back whom the Steelers drafted in the fifth round in 1989 out of Michigan and played in 15 games as a rookie. In 1990, he joined the Houston Oilers but was cut during training camp and finished his career in the CFL and World Football League.

As mentioned in the video, Arnold appears to have a presence at Steelers OTAs, posting several pictures to social media.

My Man Mike T. pic.twitter.com/rwfmcsiWjL

— David Arnold Sr. (@CoachDArnold15) June 4, 2025

Had a Great Day with my Big Bro yesterday at Steeler Training Camp! Quality Time with Steven, met Ciara, Jason Kidd, seen my former teammate Louis Lipps. And took some pics! Once a Steeler, Always a Steeler! pic.twitter.com/Tfm9tkdW0O

— David Arnold Sr. (@CoachDArnold15) August 1, 2024

The story of Tomlin cutting players for arriving minutes late to a meeting may come across as harsh. Most of the stories that we hear are fond memories of the ways Tomlin influenced players. But if we are to believe his most famous mantra, that the standard is the standard, then stories such as this should come as no surprise.

With the NFL Combine underway and the pre-draft process ramping up to full frenzy, it’s an important reminder to young players about the importance of the opportunity that is in front of them. Especially for undrafted free agents and fringe-of-the roster players, life on an NFL roster can be precarious at best and very little room for transgression exists.