By day, former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin spent the better part of two decades coaching the Steel City's NFL team. By night and in his spare moments, he spent a large chunk of that time building a city inside a video game.
During a September interview on the "Today" show, Tomlin revealed his hobby, saying he's been working on a city in Minecraft for the past 12 years.
On Sept. 30, he posted a video to his YouTube channel touring the city. Here's what it showed.
What's in Mike Tomlin's Minecraft city?
Tomlin's city includes hotels, high-rise apartments, baseball and soccer stadiums, a Walmart and more. The buildings feature elevators, rooftop penthouses, a multi-level aquarium, pools and even a speakeasy.
Tomlin built the city around a river, something that was challenging with
the game's topography. He described having to blow up mountains and hills in order to redevelop the land to make it match his vision.
The Sept. 30 video posted to Tomlin's YouTube channel was just episode one in a series. As of Oct. 1, he hadn't said when the second episode would premiere, though he said in an X post that he couldn't "give it all away in one video."
Was Mike Tomlin's Minecraft city inspired by Pittsburgh?
Tomlin didn't say the city was inspired by Pittsburgh. The buildings pull inspiration from various parts of the country, such as an area of his city that Tomlin said was inspired by the apartment complex his son lived in while attending college. Another tower was modeled after Trump Tower in New York City.
How did Mike Tomlin get into Minecraft?
Tomlin's construction on his Minecraft city began 12 years ago, he said during a September interview with the "Today" show. It started as a way to connect with his kids when they were in middle school, though he stuck with it as they lost interest in the game, saying he's had a long-time interest in architecture. Creating the city has given him a way to pursue that passion and unwind from his day job.
What is Minecraft?
Minecraft is a sandbox game where players can explore the landscape or create their own world, according to the game's website.
The game features creatures that can be "battled or befriended," and creations can be shared with communities around the world.
The game has a Pan-European Game Information rating of 7 and a Entertainment Software Rating Board rating of Everyone 10+. It's available on Windows, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Fire OS/TV, Android, iOS, Windows Mobile and Samsung Gear VR.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at FWalker@usatodayco.com. Instagram: @finchwalker_. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Was Mike Tomlin's Minecraft city inspired by Pittsburgh? What we know
