The NFL is still feeling the waves from the massive splash that was Mike Tomlin stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The longest-tenured head coach in American sports addressed the team
the same way he has at the end of every season, but this time was different, as he told the team it was best if he stepped down.
Mike DeFabo of The Athletic spoke to several players in the aftermath of the meeting, and what they painted a picture of what that final meeting entailed, and the emotions that followed.
Per DeFabo, Tomlin told the team that he spoke with Team President Art Rooney II and General Manager Omar Khan and that he felt it was best for the organization that he step down. T.J. Watt began saying “no” repeatedly as tears filled his eyes. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was practically “hyperventilating,” as he has known Tomlin since he was a young child and has a very close relationship with him.
DeFabo adds that when Tomlin finished his speech, the team gave him a standing ovation before every player, one by one, hugged their now former head coach. When Aaron Rodgers got to Tomlin, he apologized to Tomlin through sobs of his own, continually telling his coach that he was sorry.
The love that the players have for Tomlin has always been a talking point when discussing the polarizing coach, and that is immensely obvious in their reactions to finding out he won’t be there going forward.
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