Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back and Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy has deep ties to the Steelers. He played for the club in the 1970s and was on the coaching staff in the 1980s. He also was the head coach in Tampa Bay when Mike Tomlin first got his start in the NFL.
Dungy, who now works for NBC Sports, was in Pittsburgh for this past Sunday night’s Steelers-Ravens game. He had a 30-minute meeting with Steelers owner Art Rooney II on Saturday prior to his one-on-one interview with Tomlin. From those conversations, he would be shocked if Tomlin is fired after this season.
“I interviewed Mike Tomlin Saturday,” Dungy said on The Dan Patrick Show. “I’m in Art Rooney’s office, and I sit for 30 minutes with Art Rooney. And I come to the conclusion, Mike Tomlin is not in trouble. I sensed that from talking to Art [Rooney II].”
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was fired two days after Sunday night’s loss to the Steelers. Harbaugh was the Ravens head coach for 18 years, one season short of Tomlin’s 19-year tenure.
Speaking during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Tomlin reflected on his years of battles with Harbaugh and the state of the industry that frequently replaces its top coaches.
“First, I just have so much respect for Harbs,” Tomlin said. “Our stories will forever be interwoven. This rivalry that we’ve been fortunate and honored enough to be a part of, I’ve just got so much respect for him and how he’s gone his business. We’ve certainly had some legendary battles over the years.”
There was speculation that whoever lost Sunday night’s game, either Harbaugh or Tomlin would be fired. Dungy didn”t feel like that was the case with Tomlin.
“If Pittsburgh lost, I knew that wasn’t true,” Dungy said.
Despite speculation, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter also highly doubts that Tomlin won’t be the Steelers head coach in 2026.
According to a report by Schefter, Tomlin’s contract extension with the team, a three-year deal he signed in 2024, is actually a two-year deal with an option for the 2027 season. The Steelers will have to make a decision about whether to pick up that option this March.
“[Tomlin’s] got one year left on his contract, and there’s a feeling, for many that he will fulfill what he started,” Schefter said on SportsCenter on Sunday. “He’s the longest-tenured head coach in the National Football League — 19 years. The fans in Pittsburgh were calling for his firing about a month ago. Yet, he is on the verge of winning a division, and the feeling is that he’ll be back in Pittsburgh for at least another year, though there will be conversations that occur.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: HOF HC Believes Mike Tomlin is ‘Safe’ after Talking with Art Rooney II
