Total Pro Sports
In a scenario that sounded crazy to ponder just a year ago, both John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin have emerged as the top names in the 2026 NFL head coach hiring cycle.
One week after the Baltimore Ravens surprisingly relieved John Harbaugh of his duties, the 53-year-old Mike Tomlin announced his resignation as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tomlin’s move came a day after Pittsburgh was humiliated 30-6 by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
With the two Super Bowl-winning and future Hall of Fame coaches available, one AFC team is reportedly planning to go big-game hunting to fill its HC vacancy.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, Harbaugh and Tomlin are the Miami Dolphins’ two desired candidates.
“John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin are at the top of the (Dolphins’) wish list,” a league source told Anderson.”
The source informed Anderson that there was a reason why the AFC South club was “comfortable” moving on from the well-liked Mike McDaniel.
John Harbaugh recently completed his first interview with the Atlanta Falcons. It’s unclear yet if Mike Tomlin wants to jump right back into coaching. But if he does, he sure won’t be out of work for long.
In many ways, it felt like Tomlin and the Steelers should have split several years ago. But the Steelers are built around continuity, having employed just three coaches (Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin) since 1969.
Tomlin also seemed comfortable in an organization that was always competitive, but rarely a Super Bowl contender. After the Steelers reached Super Bowl 45 in the 2010 season, Tomlin only won three more playoff games.
A fresh start was necessary for the legendary head coach. And he made the right decision to resign instead of forcing ownership into a potentially painful decision to fire him.
