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By Andrew McCarty
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After 19 seasons in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers, longtime head coach Mike Tomlin announced his surprising decision to step down from his post.
"After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team," he said in a statement. "I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day, and to the coaches and staff whose commitment and dedication made this journey so meaningful."
While rumors of a potential departure emerged in the waning weeks of the season, the move still came as a shock to those outside – and inside – the locker room.
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In a postmortem piece on the Steelers 2025 season and Tomlin's final meeting with the team, Pittsburgh insider Mike DeFabo of The Athletic painted a picture of the coach's final address.
"In the business of the NFL, there’s consequences for not doing your job. As a professional in this business, you have to live with those consequences. Some of us will be here next year; some of us won’t," Tomlin reportedly told the team. "Guys, I want you to hear this from me first…I just met with Art Rooney and Omar. I think it’s best for the organization for me to step down."
DeFabo revealed the exasperation within the room with one staff member likening the meeting to a funeral. "It felt like a funeral," the staff member said. "I teared up. It’s like finding out your dad died."
One of the last to greet Tomlin at the door was quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who muttered a two-word message to his coach: "I'm sorry."
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