Analyst thinks Steelers’ Mike Tomlin is headed for TV following 2024 season

“That is the toughest schedule I have ever seen, (from) Thanksgiving on, in league history. Did you see the last six quarterbacks Pittsburgh faces?” Cowherd said on his podcast. “[Joe] Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, [Patrick] Mahomes, and Burrow. Mike Tomlin is going to be on network broadcasting. And, by the way, I predict he’ll be great. I’ve talked to two network execs who would hire Mike Tomlin tomorrow.”

Well, while I agree with Cowherd on Tomlin's broadcasting skills, there are also 30 other teams (not counting Pittsburgh or Kansas City) that would be just as interested in keeping him in the league as a Head Coach. 

Now there is the chance he takes a sabbatical and signs with a new team, al-la Sean Payton after retiring from the Saints, signing with Fox Sports and then taking the Broncos HC job in 2023. 

But it would be easier for Tomlin to join a new team or go to broadcasting than it was for Payton. You see, Payton had to retire and then have his rights traded to Denver just to get back into the league. 

That was because he was under contract in New Orleans. 

The same can't be said for Coach Tomlin. 

2024 is the final year of his contract, and while Pittsburgh Steelers team owner and president Art Rooney II has reiterated that he believes an extension with Mike Tomlin  will get done, we are a year late in terms of historical precedent on when those extensions are finished. 

We also know that the Steelers don't do extensions or contract negotiations at all for that matter when the season begins, which is training camp or late July for every NFL team. 

That gives the two sides exactly two months from now to decide on whether an extension is viable, or if Pittsburgh want's to wait and see how the season goes before deciding their next move with Mike Tomlin. 

That will determine where he is in 2025.