{"id":683483,"date":"2026-01-17T05:13:45","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T05:13:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/683483\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T05:13:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T05:13:45","slug":"is-mike-tomlin-a-fit-for-tampa-bay-buccaneers-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/683483\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Mike Tomlin a Fit for Tampa Bay Buccaneers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Something that people thought would never see happen happened: Mike Tomlin stepped down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to forget now, since Tomlin had been the running the show on Pittsburgh for so long (19 seasons), but Tomlin once won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<\/p>\n

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From 2001-2005, Tomlin was Tampa Bay\u2019s defensive backs coach, first working on Tony Dungy\u2019s staff (2001) and then Jon Gruden\u2019s (2002-05). After that, Tomlin became the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 <\/a>defensive coordinator for a season before taking the helm in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

Over the past two decades, Tomlin has become a polarizing figure.<\/p>\n

Tomlin\u2019s critics would point out that he never won a Super Bowl after accomplishing that feat in the 2008 season, and didn\u2019t even manage a playoff win over his last near decade in charge.<\/p>\n

Tomlin\u2019s defenders will point out that he never had a losing campaign in 19 seasons with the Steelers, and he accomplished this despite starting the likes of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Devlin Hodges at quarterback for extended periods.<\/p>\n

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Tomlin is only 53, so there\u2019s a good chance he ends up coaching somewhere else soon.<\/p>\n

But should that place be in Tampa, and should that time be right now?<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Josina Anderson reported that Tomlin would prefer to coach in a warmer climate.<\/p>\n

Tampa Bay certainly fits that description.<\/p>\n

Although it\u2019s been a long time since Tomlin coached for Tampa Bay, his ties to the organization are undeniable, and Tomlin is familiar with the Glazer family, which still owns the team.<\/p>\n

Despite finishing this season 8-9, the Buccaneers have won five division titles and a Super Bowl this decade. That\u2019s a winning culture, and a better culture than most teams with head-coach vacancies offer (Cleveland,<\/a> Las Vegas<\/a>, etc.).<\/p>\n

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The thing is, the Buccaneers currently don\u2019t have an opening at head coach.<\/p>\n

Despite Tampa\u2019s 2-7 second-half slide and its failure to win the NFC South \u2014 a division in which every team had a losing record \u2014 the team’s apparent intention is for Bowles to stay in the lead job for 2026.<\/p>\n

Some of Tomlin\u2019s staunchest defenders over the years claim that, should he leave Pittsburgh, teams would go as far as to fire their current coach to make a run at Tomlin.<\/p>\n

Is this something to Glazers would do?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to say at the moment, since Tomlin has only been unemployed for one day so far.<\/p>\n

But even if this is the Bucs’ thinking, the question becomes whether Tomlin even wants to coach in 2026.<\/p>\n

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Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that team\u2019s expressing interest in Tomlin have been told he doesn\u2019t plan to coach anywhere next season.<\/p>\n

Could these plans change? Yes. Does it seem likely? No.<\/p>\n

The way Tampa\u2019s season ended, plus Tomlin\u2019s track record and ties to the franchise make it inevitable for the “Tomlin to Tampa?” question to be asked.<\/p>\n

But right now, it\u2019s something that needs to be seen to be believed.<\/p>\n

\u3164<\/p>\n

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