Mike Tomlin reveals reason he left Steelers

TL;DR

Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after a disappointing playoff run, citing personal reasons and the need for new leadership. He has joined NBC Sports for the 'Football Night In America' pregame show.

Key points

Mike Tomlin stepped down as Steelers head coach
Cited personal reasons and lack of playoff success
Joined NBC Sports for 'Football Night In America'
Steelers are 0-6 in postseason play since 2016
Tomlin emphasized the need for new leadership

Mentioned in this story

Mike Tomlin

Pittsburgh SteelersHouston TexansNew England Patriots

Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Mike Tomlin stunned the NFL world when he stepped down as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach in January following a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. Tomlin has since joined NBC Sports and will be part of the *Football Night In America* pregame show. He joined Maria Taylor to discuss his new role, but also reflect on what made him come to the decision to step away from the Steelers. “It’s probably not an overnight decision,” Tomlin said. “But it’s probably not something that I could articulate or share with people. There’s a loneliness with leadership. I just thought it was a good time for me personally.” Tomlin also noted that the lack of playoff success played a part in his decision. “We didn’t have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years. And there’s just some veteran players there, man. Guys like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and [Chris] Boswell that I thought were just worthy of the excitement and optimism and the optimism associated with new leadership.” The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season when they advanced to the AFC Championship Game and were defeated by the . Since then, they are 0-6 in postseason play. ***Let us know what you think in the comments***. ***Be sure to bookmark Behind the Steel Curtain for all the latest news, breakdowns, and more!***

Q&A

Why did Mike Tomlin leave the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Mike Tomlin left the Steelers due to a combination of personal reasons and a lack of playoff success in recent years.

What role will Mike Tomlin have at NBC Sports?

Mike Tomlin will be part of the 'Football Night In America' pregame show on NBC Sports.

How long has it been since the Steelers won a playoff game?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not won a playoff game since the 2016 season.

Mike Tomlin reveals reason he left Steelers

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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