The Pomp And Joe Show
Ravens fire John Harbaugh, would Mike Tomlin walk away with a playoff loss
07 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
He is here live in the flesh. Bob Pompiani sitting across from me. The cardboard cutout is taking a seat on the bench. It's the real article limits, Mr. Pompiani. The real man is here in the flesh, Joe. Hi, Bob. How are you, Bob? Gentlemen. Hi, Ron.
Gentlemen, how are you? Right off the bat, I forget to turn the mic on. I've never been better, Bob. It's early. I saw you walk in, actually. I was trying to get your attention. You were focused. You were on a straight line, really high-paced walk.
I saw it. Yeah, yeah. With my Washington Wizards warm-up jacket. You like this, Bob? Whatever happened to the Washington Wizards? This is gigantic.
There are some teams that will never, ever do anything.
No, they're a forlorn franchise. Bob, I saw you for the first time today about three minutes ago, and yet you've already rejected one of my invitations. I wanted to go hit golf balls at the RMU Dome after the show today, maybe just for a half hour, and you turned it down pretty quickly, I might add. I have things to do. You can do that for sure. You even live near there. I do.
We could hit it on the way home.
Okay, now you're tempting me.
Why not?
If we leave right from here?
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Chapter 2: Why did the Ravens fire John Harbaugh?
But I actually admire the Ravens for saying, you know, that's it. It's just run its course today. You know, 18 years is a long time, and I heard Kyle Brandt on NFL Network. I thought he characterized it very keenly when he said, it's like a divorce. This may be a wonderful person, and they'll be a wonderful person for somebody else, but they're not right for you anymore.
And I think that the Ravens and Steve Bishotti over there have decided they want something better for themselves. Something more than just the ability to say we're a, quote, stable franchise that values, quote, stability. We're not doing enough. I totally agree with that. That's what he's saying. I want something better for myself. We're good. I want to be great. And we've plateaued here.
We've plateaued with this guy. And it's okay. Harbaugh put out a nice statement. The Ravens put out a nice statement. It's an amicable divorce. Philadelphia moved on from Andy Reid after 14 years. New England moved on from Bill Belichick after 24. Seattle, Pete Carroll after 14. Green Bay, Mike McCarthy after 13 plus. It's all good, but sometimes the time has come.
Now, maybe the Steelers look like the smart ones here. Maybe they do. They seem to have captured some magic. Maybe Tomlin has recaptured some mojo. And maybe they go on a run here, and then this conversation is moot. It is anyway because of what you said. He's going nowhere. But the question is, should he if they don't win this game Monday night?
I would think if they really feel the same way, then they would do that. But I just don't think they feel the same way.
I don't either. I don't either think they feel that.
Because I think there's a perfect argument to be made about wearing out a welcome. I think it happens in all sports. It doesn't matter who you're talking about. Chuck Knoll got to that point here. And finally they had to make a, and it was an amicable thing as well. So it was Bill Cowher. They all, if you're there long enough.
Do you think Cowher's was amicable? I do. I still, you don't? Not really. No, I think he wanted to stay and wanted an extension.
Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know. Talking to him subsequently, to me it came down to where his wife had been going through all the stuff she was going through before she died. And I just think he wanted time away. And I also didn't think... When he first got into television, it would last this long. I don't think he thought that either.
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Chapter 3: What does Mike Tomlin's playoff record indicate about his future?
If Tyler Lute makes that kick, we're not talking about this yet.
Yet. I think if the Ravens went out early, we still would have been. Do you think if they won that game and then they win another game... Then it's tough to get rid of him if he's winning basically a de facto playoff game and the division and a playoff game. I think that they mend fences there, whatever's going on with him and Lamar.
But man, like I said, to everybody out there, this goes at 412-928-9370, 928-9370. Two very similar resumes between Tomlin and Harbaugh. I heard the PM guys yesterday saying Tomlin's owned him lately.
Again, that's true in head-to-head, but if you ask me before a season, would I rather beat this coach when I face him or have a better year than him, I'd say I'd rather have a better year and excluding this year, obviously. The Ravens have had all the better seasons lately. They've won playoff games. Mike Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game or come close since 2016, that season.
So again, if you agree with this, that the Ravens have done the right thing, And if the Steelers lose Monday night, I think you're in a bit of an intellectual bind to find the rationale to say, yeah, I think the Ravens did the right thing, but the Steelers should keep Tomlin. I think that's a tough one to rationalize myself.
I didn't think they would fire Harbaugh. I didn't. I thought they were, you know, they're still a team that's a factor every single year. Yes, the playoff success has been small in terms of wins for both sides. But I look at Mike McCarthy's resume and you can say, okay, but he's been fired twice despite similar numbers. Sean Payton, same thing.
So there is a case to be made that moving on is good for the person and it's also good for the team. But there's also the other side of that where moving on could lead you into a
cycle of all these different coaches there's the risk there's the New York Giants example how many guys they've gone through yeah you know that's why they keep continuing to teeter along the way they are so I think the Steelers just feel that they're you know if there was something in the locker room that made I think Art Rooney and the franchise owners and and the people in front office unhappy with how things were going I think that would be a different story but I think those players are
And I heard Crowley coming in. He made a good point that Pat Fryermuth, who has largely not been used the way I thought he would be used, was one of the more vocal guys in supporting Mike Thomas. So I think internally they all want to play for him.
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Chapter 4: Did the Ravens make the right decision in firing Harbaugh?
That's great. They need to win a playoff game. I get it.
Chapter 5: How does the disconnect between Lamar Jackson and Harbaugh relate to the Ravens' decision?
I totally get what you're saying. And I would say the same thing. That's four years out of 19. You've got to do much better than that. Which leads to this question then. How about if they lose an overtime game? Does it change your opinion?
Man, that's a great question. I think you got to bring home the baby this year, but I'll admit I'd be teetering a little bit more if it's at least you can say we've come close to winning one. I would probably still say, well... See, that's a good question. Would I still say Tuesday morning it's time to move on?
I don't know that I would because to me that's at least a difference to come out and play well as an underdog, by the way. Right. As an underdog and to come close to winning one. I think I would still lean, and it's hard to know. It's one of those situations you don't know until you're in it and you watch the game.
I think I would still say maybe it's run its course here, but I think there's some young talent around here. I do. The quarterback's going to be another huge question next season. But here's the real thing, Bob. I don't think they are going to lose. Neither do I. So I think Tuesday we're going to be talking about, wow, he really has recaptured some magic here. But...
Chapter 6: What factors contribute to the Steelers' confidence in Mike Tomlin?
I feel about 55%, maybe 60% Steelers win, 40% they don't. Would I be shocked if Houston comes in here and batters them around defensively and wins the game?
No, I wouldn't be shocked about that. But I do think that they have an offense that can not go down the field with ease. But I do think they have Rodgers playing at a time of the year where he loves making good decisions, as we saw. And I know it's a different dynamic. They're going to come after him trying to get him out of the game.
I mean, their mindset will be he doesn't move very well, let's get after it. They have one of the top pass rushes in the game. How they adjust to that will likely be what we've seen a lot of. Get the ball to Gainwell and Warren and see what they can do after the catch. But with Metcalf back, that's a different dynamic down the field.
That may be able to create something, although they've got great safeties there and cornerbacks. They've got a really good defensive secondary. So if they win that game against a team like that, which I think is a really good team, then I think there is no discussion.
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The other thing that's on my mind then today, in addition to all that, because for sure, however you feel about it, The Ravens firing John Harbaugh absolutely casts a bright light on the Steelers' situation with Mike Tomlin. Whatever side you fall on, that's just the situation here.
You look to the person whose resume resembles Harbaugh's the most in all of football and maybe all of football history, and it's Mike Tomlin. It's Tomlin and Harbaugh.
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Chapter 7: How do playoff performances affect the perception of Tomlin and Harbaugh?
It's Harbaugh and Tomlin. It's Mike Harbaugh and John Tomlin. I mean, they're one and the same. And I give a tip of my cap. I think, like Tomlin, Harbaugh is one of the good guys. I give a tip of my cap to him because it's been and it was a fabulous rivalry between these two guys. 40 games. The only people in history who had a rivalry that long were Curly Lambeau and George Hallis.
I think Ron covered the entirety of that rivalry, Bob, including the only one-on-one with Curly Lambeau. I think it was great for talk radio. But I remember interviewing Harbaugh his first year. I traveled to Westminster where they had training camp. And I was curious about his one year at Pitt. He didn't go to Pitt, but he was still a graduate assistant coach under Mike Godfrey in 1987.
John Fox on that staff. Sid Gilman, Pro Football Hall of Famer on that staff. And it was Harbaugh's first year coaching, and his dad, Jack, was on that staff. What a staff that was under Gottfried. And I said, did that have any effect? He said, it changed my life because he got assigned to work under Sid Gilman, legend, as coaching the tight ends.
And the other thing Harbaugh did, part of his job that Gottfried said you have to do, is deliver Pitt media guides. This was, of course, pre-internet, Bob, 1987. Deliver Pitt media guides to every high school in western Pennsylvania. So he said, I'd be driving around in my little beat-up, rusted-out car, and he said, I couldn't find my way around, which we can all relate to.
He said, I can see, there's the school. How'd I get there? It's right up there on the hill, but I can't get there. So I've always had a soft spot for, well, at times I've hated him. I'll admit that during the games, but he seemed like a likable guy. Maybe saying I had a soft spot's a little too far, but I like him better than Jim. I'll tell you that much.
And I think that him and Mike have had a great rivalry. A fierce rivalry, a gentlemanly rivalry. I think two of the good guys. And I give a tip of my cap to Harbaugh on the way out, Bob.
No question about it. Maybe the best of the entire 40-some games was what we saw the other night. Maybe. Given everything that was on the line, I don't know of another game that had as much drama, especially in the entire fourth quarter. Not so much throughout the course of the game.
But when it mattered the most, when time was clicking out, the end of the regular season, last play of the regular season, So much drama. So, yeah, I think that's been terrific. And regardless of what happens, Tomlin's future or not, here or not, it would be the same sort of acknowledgement for him if he decided to move on or if they decided to make a change, which I don't think is in the cards.
But we'll see. I think they're going to win that game. I don't know why I've come to that conclusion because Houston's defense is that good. But I do think they have something going on right now, and Aaron Rodgers is the key to it.
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Chapter 8: What are the broader themes of coaching stability in the NFL?
That's what he did. And then Parker and Stargell and Bill Robinson and John Milner and Lee Lacey and Ed Ott and Steve Nicosia and everybody else would come up.
The combination of Ott and Steve Nicosia was a good one. Yeah, it was. Well, you know what's sad to me? I walk around and I mention those names to people, younger people. Nobody knows what I'm talking about.
Who was the famous pinch runner, Bob? You remember his name? Vic, no. Used to run. Oh, Gene Clines, no.
Passed home plate backwards. I know who this is, and I can't think of his name now. I'm thinking Choo Choo Clines. It's not him. Matt Alexander.
Matt Alexander, number 36. Number 36.
I remember the number.
I can't remember the name. Did you know Ron got the first one-on-one interview with Pi Trainer, Bob? Way back when. Boy, I tell you what, he was very good about getting those interviews. He was. He was on the Hannes Wagner card before Hannes Wagner was, Ron.
all right let's start with kyle in freeport he's going to lead us off hello kyle ricky henderson the former home of henderson now you're going that's yeah doesn't get much better way back now um the home of ron digitis great running back in freeport i used to cover high school football out there how are you sir kyle kyle go ahead kyle hey sorry sorry about that what are you doing
I'm driving up the hill to work.
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