Saying he was “grateful” for Mike Tomlin and that Tomlin stepping down as coach created “an emotional day” for the organization, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II spent the first 79 seconds of his Wednesday news conference extolling the virtues of Mike Tomlin.
“Mike’s been a great leader of our franchise,” Rooney said, “for 19 years.”
A few minutes later, Rooney said he had hoped and planned for a 20th.
While Rooney repeatedly expressed he was not going to get into the details of Tomlin’s contract, he did allow that the organization’s plan was for Tomlin to lead the team for the coming 2026 season.
“I was certainly willing to take another run at it next year with Mike,” Rooney said, “and that’s what I was expecting to talk about (Tuesday).
“But obviously, (things) went in a different direction.”
That direction changed, as Rooney tells it, when he met with Tomlin and Tomlin informed him of his decision to step down from the job he’s held since January 2007.
“He led us with toughness and integrity,” Rooney said, “and always reflected the values of our organization.”
Rooney then went on to list the Super Bowl XL championship, an additional AFC title, eight AFC North crowns “and many, many wins.”
Two-hundred-one of those, to be exact — albeit only eight among 20 tries in the postseason.
“The bottom line was we were always in contention with Mike,” Rooney said, “and that’s what counts.
“More than his accomplishments, Mike was a steady and respected leader. He 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.”
Art Rooney II’s opening remarks on the Steelers moving on after Mike Tomlin stepping down as coach.
“Bottom line – we were always in contention with Mike, and that’s what counts.” pic.twitter.com/YeS75BSKYQ
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 14, 2026
Rooney said the 15-20 minute conversation with Tomlin occurred in the late morning hours Tuesday, meaning it was less than 12 hours removed from the 2025 Steelers getting eliminated from the playoffs by way of a 30-6 home loss to the Houston Texans in a wild-card game Monday night.
Although he was reluctant to speak for Tomlin in too great of detail, Rooney said he believed that Tomlin’s decision was motivated by family. Rooney said he did not try to talk Tomlin into staying on — “He was pretty clear about what his intentions were” — and that he was not surprised by Tomlin’s decision.
“When you’re going into 18, 19 years of a career like this — he said it himself, he knows it’s not going to go forever,” Rooney said. “So, I think I knew. I think we all knew, that we were getting toward the end.”
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Rooney added that he believes Tomlin does not have intention or desire to coach during the 2026 season. Tomlin remains under contract with the Steelers — the team reportedly had an option for 2027 it would have had to exercise this spring — and if he did so choose to pursue another NFL coaching job, the Steelers would be in position to demand compensation from that team.
“I think Mike wants to spend time with his family and do some of the kinds of things he hasn’t been able to do for the last many, many years,” Rooney said. “And so, if something like (an other coaching opportunity) comes up, we’ll deal with (compensation) when it comes up. But right now, that doesn’t seem to be on his radar.”
Speculation will surely persist that Rooney in some small way forced Tomlin’s hand, perhaps by suggesting the team was not going to exercise the option on his contract. Certainly, though, in the public forum Wednesday — likely to be the final public word from Rooney on Tomlin’s departure — it was all lovefest from the team president to his longtime coach.
“Mike was great to work with, day in and day out,” Rooney said. “Just an incredible presence in the building. Someone that you walk into a meeting and discuss what needs to be done — and that’s the plan. So (there’s) no backtracking on things, no sort of hidden agendas, anything like that. He was great to work with.”