If the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, or Tennessee Titans were considering Mike Tomlin as a fallback option for their pursuit of John Harbaugh, that now looks highly unlikely.
While Harbaugh wasn’t expected to be fired by the Baltimore Ravens last week, it wasn’t long before rival teams let it be known they would gladly take his services as their new head coach. Of the potential suitors, the NY Giants, Falcons, Dolphins, and Titans are viewed as the strongest contenders.
However, the latter three may not get a chance to speak with the 63-year-old. The Giants are meeting with Harbaugh at their facilities today, and various rumors suggest he may leave with the framework of an agreement in place.
The word is that the money side of a deal won’t be an issue. The only hurdle to finalizing a contract is if Harbaugh does not develop an immediate connection with Giants general manager Joe Schoen during their first in-person conversation.
Making matters worse for the Dolphins, Falcons, and Titans is that a top fallback option if they don’t get Harbaugh is allegedly off the board as well.
Mike Tomlin Not Planning to Coach in 2026
Harbaugh wasn’t the only legendary coach whose tenure with their current team ended recently. On Tuesday, Mike Tomlin decided to step down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Similar to Harbaugh, he has a Super Bowl win on his resume, and took his team to the playoffs for the majority of the 19 seasons he spent with the franchise. Furthermore, he is 10 years younger than his AFC North counterpart. Being the fallback plan for the Dolphins, Falcons, and Titans was likely. However, the teams may not get to speak with him either.
“Mike indicated that he did not anticipate coaching in the future and wanted to spend time with his family,” Steelers owner Art Rooney II said during a Wednesday press conference. “Right now, that doesn’t seem to be on his radar.”
Also of note is that any team that wants to hire Tomlin will have to give up draft compensation because the Steelers still hold the coach’s contractual rights.
