The Pomp And Joe Show
Art Rooney II's thoughts on Mike Tomlin, Steelers future in a new era
14 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
All right, we're back. 1244 in the afternoon. Art Rooney II has just spoken over there. We are going to break down a lot of what he had to say after Mike Tomlin decided that that was it yesterday. He is going to move on.
Chapter 2: What did Art Rooney II say about Mike Tomlin's departure?
The way it sounds, he's not going to be back in coaching at least this season. I fully expect that he will, but it's that time. He just needed a little break. Apparently, family decisions as well. A lot of it gets involved.
Chapter 3: What qualities made Mike Tomlin a respected leader for the Steelers?
And so the search is on for a new Steelers head coach. So, Austin, we've run down a lot of names here. One name that I didn't throw out, and I noticed it's on the field, but I can't believe this name is even on the list, and that's Brian Daybold.
Yeah, it's a fascinating name. I would think that a coach that was fired in season by the Giants would not be the guy that they would go after. But then again, we're talking about the Browns coach that might end up being the best candidate.
It's not that I don't think he's a good football mind. It's just that that's not the fit they're looking for here.
I don't think so.
Who's that, Bob?
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Chapter 4: What is the timeline for the Steelers' coaching search?
Dable. He's on a list here. The first time I've ever seen his name on a list. No, no. No, I'm not. It's going to be somebody young, emerging. And I think they like what they've done with their previous three hires. The same kind of script may follow. We'll see. But does it have to be that, a young defensive coordinator?
It doesn't, but I think their preference is ā it doesn't have to be a young coordinator, preferably, or someone in a system who is regarded. They'll do their homework and find through conversations ā I'm sure Mike Tomlin emerged that way. Give him a chance. He comes in an interview. They had their mind made up, and he changed their mind.
There's a long way to go, although I've got to imagine this has got to be done. What timeline would you give it? They have a draft coming. There's a lot of stuff coming to Pittsburgh.
Chapter 5: What factors influence the choice of a new head coach for the Steelers?
That's a great question, Bob, because that's one of the questions that Art answered. Do you have it here now? Here it is.
What is the timeline of getting the coaching here? What's the scenario for you? You know, I don't want to put an exact time frame on it. You know, we'll get started right away. And, you know, it'll take weeks at least, I would say. You know, nowadays there are a number of protocols we have to follow that are sort of really designed to slow the process down.
And so, as I say, it'll probably take at least a few weeks. Now, Limits, are we going to go with choice quotes, or do we have the whole thing? We have the full thing. Would you like to just start from the beginning?
Let's do it. Here's Art's opening.
And then if we raise our hands, we'll just interrupt and go from there. Yes, sir. Good afternoon, everyone. As you know, yesterday Coach Tomlin and I met, and Mike informed me of his decision to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was an emotional day for everybody involved. in our organization yesterday.
Mike's been, uh, a great, uh, leader of our franchise now for 19 years and led us with, uh, toughness, integrity, and, uh, always reflected the values of our organization. Uh, I think you all know his many accomplishments, uh, two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl victory, uh, many AFC North titles, uh, and, and many, many wins. And, uh,
The bottom line was we were always in contention with Mike, and that's what counts. More than his accomplishments, Mike was a steady. May I jump in? I figured you would. That's what counts? I thought what counted was first winning championships, but were they really in contention? When's the last time you felt they were actually in contention?
For a brief time, I did this year, but for the most part, Bob, Over the past several years, they feel like a fringe playoff team that really is not in contention for anything meaningful other than possibly, possibly a playoff win, and they never even came close.
But when he said that's what counts. What counts, I think his message there is you've got to be in this until the end and give yourself a shot.
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Chapter 6: Why is there a preference for a young defensive coordinator?
And if I had to go back and look, I would have thought that The 2020 year, was that the one that started the COVID year, 11-0, and they were really going? I thought that. And then it just completely petered out at the end. But I think that's the message he's trying to send. You want a coach that has an opportunity to get you to where you need to go.
And then when you get there, I'm sure he's not happy with the results when you get there.
I don't know. I won't say a Freudian slip, but that just didn't sound right. We're always in contention, and that's what counts. I mean... What counts is banners. What counts is runs, at least making a playoff run once in a while, right?
So 2017 is the last time that they were realistically a true contender then.
And somebody also has to remind a lot of people out there. that every single one of those Lombardi trophies was born of losing, of a losing season. It's okay to have one. It really is. In fact, it's how you start to win again in a lot of cases. That's how Franco Harris got here and Terry Bradshaw and Joe Green.
mel blunt everybody else um and certainly how ben got here their last losing season got them ben who's most responsible for the non-losing streak since then and it happens in all sports you saw with the penguins what they needed to do hit rock bottom before i get all that but there's also the other side of that where you can hit rock bottom and stay there for quite some time because you've been there
you mangle things after that. So I think what he was referring to is that you have to be at least in this hunt, get to a point. They've been in the playoffs five of the last six years. And I agree with your point that they weren't looked at as serious contenders necessarily, but they got there. And I think that was his point. Please continue limits.
And respected leader cared deeply about our players, our staff, and the whole Steeler organization. He represented the Steelers with class and dignity every single day. And on behalf of my family, everyone connected with the Steelers, I want to thank Mike and his family for being part of Steelers football for the last 19 years. We'll always be grateful. That part, I concur.
Mike Tomlin was a great representative of the city, widely respected, beloved within the organization. That part, I absolutely sign up.
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Chapter 7: How has fan reaction influenced coaching decisions in the NFL?
It was his decision. Well, it was his decision. And, you know, I will say that I wasn't shocked, but I wasn't expecting that conversation yesterday either. So, you know, there were, when you get to this stage of a career, obviously he even mentioned it himself that he was nearer to the end than the beginning. And so, you know, You know, you could see that coming.
And so, as I said, I can't say that I was shocked. I take everything I hear. This isn't just Steeler-centric. It's everything I hear in pro sports or politics or everywhere else, look at with a very cynical eye. I wonder what went on behind the scenes. I always wonder.
And there's always more to every story.
I certainly know that. Yeah, of course. The Steelers themselves have put a nice face on situations where, to put it... Quite bluntly, a lot of people felt like they lied. Bruce Arians is a great example. He retired. We wish him well. No, he didn't. Art fired him. Not Mike, because Mike was ready to have him back. Art fired him.
A lot of people think Art stepped in and fired Matt Canada, that that wasn't Mike's decision. So call me cynical. And it doesn't matter in some ways because Mike is now done. But I just don't believe at face value everything I hear from Art or any, any owner, GM, coach in pro sports.
I just think that's part of how they do business. I'm not going to tell you all the... the things that led up to whatever decision it was. Certainly, it goes deeper. Certainly, there are a lot of things involved that we will never know about. Of course.
Do I wonder if Mike thought that he wasn't going to get that option year triggered? Yeah, I wonder about that. I wonder about a lot of things, what influenced this decision. It seems so nice and tidy, and that ain't the way it works a lot of the time. Things aren't nice and tidy at the end. But I think that's true of every profession. I do too.
I see it in our business. There are things that happen and you're never going to get to the bottom of it because people aren't going to say anything about what actually led to it. So you're left to believe what you want to believe and you're right. You can have cynicism because that leads to it. I don't have any problem with that. But I also know that this is what you're going to get.
And I believe what he said, that this was more of a... And I'll use burnout. I keep using that word. To me, that's a multifaceted word because it takes into account a lot of things that could lead to a burnout situation. Family... Obviously, I know for a fact that over the time that I've done a show with him that he's talked about, man, I wish I could have been there.
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Chapter 8: What does Art Rooney II believe about the future of the Steelers?
To everything. Right. So as I hear this, uh, you know, I, I, well, I don't necessarily believe it all, but I'm listening to it. Go ahead. Give Mike the, uh, extension on his contract for 2027 in March. And did he ask for that? No, I'm not going to get into his contract at this point.
Uh, we certainly, I was certainly, uh, willing to, uh, you know, take another run at it next year with Mike and, and, uh, And, you know, that's what I was expecting to talk about yesterday, but obviously went in a different direction. Bob, they were going to take another run at it. Oh, my God.
Like, how many more runs were you going to take before you realize this ain't working, that you get blown out every year and now worse than ever?
Well, I think also, I mean, their view of this too, and I think, you know, we talk about other sports, just getting two. You know, what will it take for the Pirates to get two? What will it take for the Penguins to get two? You want to win divisions. That's a big priority.
If we started at the beginning of this season and said, no matter how it unfolded, that the Steelers would win the AFC North, I think most of us would say, well, I don't see that coming. I think Baltimore and Cincinnati are going to be better for obvious reasons, a quarterback or whatever. So, again, I think... Talking to them over the years is enough to know the priority is get to.
That's a priority. It's not their standard. You're right. They need to win those games, and they haven't done so. They have been bad, dominated in every one of those seven games. Would you have brought back Tomlin? Well, I told you last year I would have gone into, before you got the last extension, I would have tried to see one more year and see where it took me.
It took you to the worst home playoff loss in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I understand that, but they also want a division.
I mean, let's be honest. I understand that. They want a division because two other teams fell apart and because of a missed field goal. I still give them credit for that, but this wound up in a worse place than any other of these playoff games.
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