For the past nineteen years, Mike Tomlin has stood on the sidelines for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and wife Kiya Tomlin stood beside him in more ways than one. But after the Steelers suffered their seventh consecutive playoff loss, Tomlin stepped down from the helm. While President Art Rooney II stated he would have welcomed Tomlin back for the 2026 season, the former HC wanted to prioritize his family. Speaking of family, Kiya Tomlin herself chimed in with a message of her own after her husband’s departure.

“We never did it for the recognition, but I just want to thank you,” Blitzburgh shared on X. “More importantly, I want to thank all the many communities in Pittsburgh that really welcomed us with open arms. It has truly been an honor to serve Pittsburgh for 19 years. Thank you.”

Mike Tomlin has been married to Kiya Tomlin since 1996. The couple is now approaching 30 years together with a partnership built on unwavering support. When Mike stepped away from Pittsburgh, Kiya’s words captured it perfectly.

“I am incredibly proud of what he has accomplished both on and off the field. Over the past days, the testimonies shared by his current and former players, the men who knew him best, have been deeply moving,” she said.

Honestly, it was not just Mike Tomlin who did his part for the team. Being a prominent fashion designer, Kiya launched a clothing brand called the Kiya Tomlin x Steelers collection back in 2021. It was her first officially licensed NFL line. Other than that, she has been a key contributor and designer for the team’s annual Steelers Style charity fashion show. This event raises funds for local organizations like Cancer Bridges and the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Center.

The Tomlin family’s contribution to the place has earned them the Patricia R. Rooney Community Impact Award just this month. After all this, Mike Tomlin stepping down was really a hard pill to swallow for the entire Pittsburgh. Before his wife, Tomlin himself also spoke publicly for the first time since stepping down at the Ireland Funds Pittsburgh Gala 2026. Speaking during the event, the veteran coach reflected on his time in Pittsburgh.

“It’s often said we’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time, like you have to choose,” Tomlin said, via Nick Farabaugh of Penn Live. “And I think our experience here in Pittsburgh and with the great Steelers organization exemplifies that. We were here for a long and really good time. Thanks for the memories.”

He also said it was an honor to serve the Steelers organization and added that Pittsburgh will always hold a special place in his family, especially since his children grew up there and proudly called it home. Looking back on his tenure, a playoff loss should not define the final chapter of Tomlin’s career. Even with the tough finish, Tomlin’s time with the Steelers remains one of the most successful eras in franchise history. During his run, he recorded 193 regular-season victories. For the past two seasons, he had also been the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL.

Soon after Tomlin stepped down, the Steelers moved quickly to hire Mike McCarthy as their next head coach. Meanwhile, the former coach is now looking ahead to the next chapter of his career.

Mike Tomlin linked to NBC role after Tony Dungy’s exit from ‘Football Night in America’

With Tony Dungy leaving NBC’s studio show Football Night in America, a new conversation has started around the network’s next analyst. Some fans and insiders have already begun linking former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to the open spot. Dungy had spent 17 seasons working on the network’s coverage of Sunday Night Football.

“I have been informed by NBC that I won’t be back with FNIA this fall,” Dungy wrote on social media. “It’s disappointing news, but I want to thank my NBC family for making the last 17 years so special.”

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However, according to Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Tomlin may not rush into television. Marchand reported that the former Steelers coach could be reluctant to jump straight into broadcasting. In addition to his work in broadcasting, the 53-year-old has also stepped into a new media project through a partnership with Amazon Prime Video. The streaming platform released a three-part documentary series, The Object of the Game, on February 4, 2026.

The series centers on the career and influence of longtime high school football coach Chuck “Chico” Kyle and explores his impact on the sport and the players he mentored. Tomlin appears in the project alongside several prominent football figures, including Bill Belichick, Sean McVay, Tony Romo, Tony Dungy, Urban Meyer, and Roger Goodell. The appearance represents one of Tomlin’s first significant on-screen projects since stepping away from coaching.

For now, Tomlin’s next move remains unclear. After nearly two decades leading the Steelers, he may simply take time away from football before deciding whether his future lies on the sidelines again or in front of the camera.