What’s next for Mike Tomlin: Are Browns, Ravens possible landing spots?

All bets seem off as Mike Tomlin becomes latest former NFL coach leave your job. While many of his peers have been let go since the end of the 2025 regular season, Tomlin was one of the few lucky NFL coaches able to leave on his terms.

That’s what happened Tuesday, just hours after the Steelers’ 2025 season ended after Pittsburgh lost its seventh straight playoff game under Tomlin. Tomlin and the Steelers’ lack of recent playoff success has somewhat overshadowed his body of work in Pittsburgh, which included a Super Bowl victory, two AFC titles, eight division titles, 13 playoff appearances and 19 consecutive undefeated seasons.

At just 53 years old, Tomlin will surely have his share of options as to what he does next. And while some potential options are more realistic than others, the recent turnover in the NFL should remind us not to rule anything out when it comes to Tomlin and what he might do next.

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Here’s a quick look at Tomlin’s likely options as he embarks on a new path.

Training in 2026

While many thought Pittsburgh would be his last team, Tomlin recently recognized on the Rich Eisen Show which he still enjoys coaching despite the obvious challenges that come with it.

“Hey, I’m institutionalized,” he said. “Man, I have to have it. I love the challenges this job provides week in and week out. The growth, the collective growth, the individual growth. A lot of the lessons I’ve learned in life have been through my football experiences. I’ve been on the team every year of my life since 1980, and so I really enjoy it.”

With that in mind, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if Tomlin is back on the sideline in 2026. And if he chooses to return to coaching, he’ll likely have his pick of several positions currently open. Having the opportunity to interview for one of the league’s current openings could be one of the reasons he chose to opt out less than 24 hours after the Steelers’ season ended.

One thing we do know is that Tomlin doesn’t want to spend time on a rebuild. There’s a reason the Steelers never had a losing season under his leadership. He wants the opportunity to win now and every year to come.

That means Tomlin’s next potential team should have a team capable of winning now. That could lead to the Atlanta Falcons, who are coming off two disappointing 8-9 seasons despite several stars on their roster, including running back Bijan Robinson, wideout Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, safety Jessie Bates III and pass rushers James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker, among others.

Quarterback remains a question in Atlanta, although the Falcons aren’t in a bad situation after Kirk Cousins ​​showed major signs of his old form last year after replacing Michael Penix Jr. in the starting lineup.

Outside of Atlanta, the Ravens would be another attractive landing spot. In Baltimore, Tomlin would have his coveted franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson and a team that was one game away from defeating the Bills and reaching the 2024 AFC title game.

Although less attractive, the Browns could also be a possible landing spot for Tomlin. Unlike Atlanta and Baltimore, Tomlin would probably get a statue in Cleveland if he led the Browns to their first division title since 1989. While his consistent streak of undefeated seasons probably wouldn’t have been properly appreciated in Pittsburgh, it undoubtedly would be in Cleveland.

The Browns are coming off back-to-back losing seasons, but they fielded one of the best defenses in the NFL last season and have an intriguing quarterback room with Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Those things could be selling points for Tomlin, who also wouldn’t have to move very far if he ended up in Cleveland.

There is, however, one major obstacle that would likely prevent Tomlin from ending up in Baltimore or Cleveland. It’s the fact that the Steelers still own his rights, meaning Pittsburgh would have to approve and then receive compensation if any team attempted to land Tomlin, which brings us to our next scenario.

A jump to the media

Similar to coaching, it is believed that Tomlin would have several media jobs to choose from if he chose to go this route. While it probably wouldn’t be as rewarding as coaching, a job in media would allow Tomlin to stay close to the game while working far fewer hours and giving him the chance to showcase his impressive communications skills.

Tomlin-isms have become a legend in Pittsburgh. His weekly Tuesday press conferences usually included some of his patented sayings (my favorite was “When you have red paint, you paint your barn red”) that were often as humorous as they were insightful.

It might help that Tomlin’s mentor, Tony Dungy, has enjoyed a hugely successful career in broadcasting since leaving coaching nearly 20 years ago. Tomlin’s predecessor, Bill Cowher, also had a very successful career in broadcasting that lasted longer than his tenure as Steelers coach.

From a legacy standpoint, there’s no doubt that Dungy and Cowher’s relevance as broadcasters helped both get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It would likely do the same for Tomlin, whose career in Pittsburgh largely emulated the success of Dungy and Cowher as coaches.

One year off

In my opinion, this is the most unlikely scenario. For someone whose boundless energy has become a legend in Pittsburgh, it’s a stretch to imagine Tomlin hiding that energy for a year in lieu of downtime.

That being said, it’s entirely possible that Tomlin takes a year to himself before making his next move. Coaching in the NFL is a tough job, after all, and Tomlin might be ready for a much-needed break.

A gap year would give Tomlin more time with his wife and three adult children. It would also give him time to enjoy what he was able to accomplish in Pittsburgh before embarking on his next challenge.