The Pomp And Joe Show
Nick Kostos would trade T.J. Watt, thinks Brian Flores should be next coach
16 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What insights does Nick Kostos share about the Steelers' coaching situation?
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Tickets and details at PittsburghTravelShowcase.com where your vacation is waiting for you. Donnie, I'm having a blank. What did I tease to? We have Nick Costos coming on, but there was another story.
You teased to a clip? What happened? You teased to, like, when did the Mike Tomlin train start to really derail, basically.
Yes, yeah. And it never got real bad, right? It never got to be where they were, you know, going 5 and 11, 6 and 11 every year. But something profound changed where the Steelers went from a powerhouse to a team that nobody really thought could win. They even went from a powerhouse to it was they have a puncher's chance with Ben. And I'll tell you where I think the Tomlin era turned.
I think it was the Super Bowl against Aaron Rodgers when a great defense with the defensive player of the year that year, Troy Polamalu, got shredded in the Super Bowl, started to show signs. They had shown some, but not many, of wear and tear and age and couldn't get it done in the biggest game. The story's always been Rashard Mendenhall from that game.
That defense had a chance to shut things down several different times, and Aaron Rodgers lit them up. And Mike Tomlin's defense, which was really in many ways Bill Cowher's defense, got old. they suddenly got old after that because the next year was Tebow. And people may point to that one, and I'll buy that too. But you know what?
They were banged up for the Tebow game because they were already old and getting injured and on their way out and starting to trickle out. And for me, it feels like maybe with a couple of exceptions, the year they went to the AFC title game against New England ā It feels to me like the Steelers being taken seriously as a legit Super Bowl contender for the most part died that day in Dallas.
That's where I think things changed.
I go a little bit later, and maybe that's just the respect I feel other teams probably had for Roethlisberger's ability, but then also after those teams, the Steelers did work themselves into having One of the best running backs in football. One of the most versatile players in football with Le'Veon Bell. Yeah. And then to me, the single top receiver in all of football with Antonio Brown.
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Chapter 2: How has Mike Tomlin's coaching style evolved over the years?
I know people would debate Julio Jones, DeAndre Hopkins. I'm taking AB over any of them. I'm taking AB over almost every single guy that's ever played the position. That's besides the point. So I feel like I put it at that Jags loss in 2017. Yeah. Where it started to flip.
How about the Shazier injury right before that then?
Which I think, which played a large part because I do think you have a player as dynamic as Shazier was, especially that season. He was without question having a breakout year. I think they end up beating the Patriots. There's no need for the Jesse James play. I think they win that game. They get the No. 1 seed. I think a lot of things are different if that injury never happens.
That's also something kind of tough, that singular event kind of tough to put on Mike. And at the same time, the injury also produced one of his best games. I've always been impressed going back to his team having to deal with watching one of their best players suffer a career-ending injury. And on that same night, they rally from a two-score deficit and win. I think that's a pretty big win.
And then beat the Ravens.
In his career, yes. But that Jags game, I feel, is when it really started to turn because then it was, all right, how many cracks do they really have left with Ben? And then 2018 happened, Bell sat out, AB exploded at the end of the year mentally. That's a good pick. He showed up in a fur coat for that Week 17 game. Yeah, that's a good pick. Didn't care to be there.
And then I think it really, really fell off the moment that Ben called it quits or maybe in his final year or two because then they've never been able to figure out the quarterback position since. They've never had a real threat at that position since.
That's a good pick, too. Fan text line brought to you by Edgar Snyder & Associates, a personal injury law firm where they always say there's never a fee unless we get money for you.
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Chapter 3: What factors contributed to the Steelers' decline as a powerhouse team?
What was our bet with Nick Kostos who's coming on next? We hit it, Joe. Yeah, we did. It was Chicago.
It was the Chicago Bears.
Yeah, baby. One of the great comebacks. All right. So then what are we looking at this weekend? Before Nick comes on here, why don't we pick a game where... Here's an interesting story, how Mike Tomlin spent his final day as the Steelers head coach by Brooke Pryor and Jeremy Fowler. Can't wait to dive into that one. Perhaps we will before the end of the show, Donnie, okay?
What are we looking at? What do you like? What do you not like in these games? What should we bet with Nick? Is Nick on the line?
He will be momentarily. I just talked to him. See, I'm also trying to wonder which way Nick will go at the same time.
I'll take Houston. I'll take Houston straight up. You on with me, Donnie? I would roll with that. Limits? Houston straight up? Can we all go with that one? No, I like the Patriots. And we'll go with it anyway.
See, I was going to throw out, but I think you would reject it. Now, you're at a real moral thicket on Saturday at 4.30 at Buffalo and Denver. Your childhood favorite team against what's turning into one of your new favorite players in Bo Nix.
Right. It's not a thicket, though. I want the Bills to win. Real bad. But who will win? Who do you think will win?
See, I think the Bills. I'm riding with Josh Allen.
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Chapter 4: What does Nick think about Aaron Rodgers' future in the NFL?
But I think if they lost that game in Jacksonville, I think he's the next one right there with them. He's ruined their seasons.
They had 13 seconds left against Kansas City. And then they couldn't finish the deal. And then they keep some idiot kicker who misses a 27-yard field goal. And then last year, Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo outcoached him on all the short yardage plays. The only time I've ever seen the tush push get stopped that many times was that game. And he wouldn't give the ball to James Cook. What?
I can't talk about this. Get this guy out if he doesn't win this year. Let's bring on Nick. Where's Nick's read limits? It's in your email. He emailed you.
Do you want me to do it?
Yeah, that would be great.
Please. All right, Nick Costos is with us now here on the show. Nick's new show, You Better You Bet, is part of Westwood One Sports, airs weekdays, 9 a.m. to noon Eastern. And Nick would like very much... for everybody to subscribe to the new YouTube page for the show, youtube.com backslash at the Costos, T-H-E-K-O-S-T-O-S, and follow Nick on all social platforms at the Costos.
Nick is also Odyssey Sports betting insider and unfortunately was on the losing end of the bet with Joe and Donnie last week having the Green Bay Packers against the Chicago Bears. Nick, thanks for joining us today on this Friday. Great to be on with you guys. How's it going?
We're even again, Nick, and we're good. We got to pick a game. That's where we start.
How the hell did this happen? I don't know. I'm way too nice a guy.
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