With Mike Tomlin stepping down as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, the Miami Dolphins are expected to have interest in him. However, it appears Tomlin is unlikely to actually land there.
According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, Tomlin, along with former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, are at the top of the Dolphins' list of head-coaching candidates.
"'John Harbaugh & Mike Tomlin are at the top of the (Miami Dolphins) wish list (at head coach),' a league source said again just now," Anderson reported. "We'll see...if the Dolphins can pull either off. It takes two to tango."
While it remains to be seen if Harbaugh will be interested, Outkick's Armando Salguero reports that Tomlin is not expected to go to the Dolphins.
"Mike Tomlin is not expected to go to the Miami Dolphins, per source, weather or otherwise. I’m told he is stepping away to be with his family and will make other decisions after," Salguero reported.
Now, that doesn't mean Tomlin isn't interested in the Dolphins at all. He could simply want to take a year off before deciding what to do next.
Of course, that would be bad news for Miami's hopes of bringing Tomlin in down the road, as Miami is currently searching for its next head coach this year.
That would mean the Dolphins would have to fire their next head coach in 2027 if Tomlin decides he wants to go to Miami after a year off.
Not only would the Dolphins have to do that, but they'd also have to trade for Tomlin, as the Steelers still hold his contract rights because he wasn't fired.
As far as what Tomlin is likely to do next is concerned, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports that the former Steelers coach is expected to take a year off and possibly do television.
"The belief in league circles is Mike Tomlin will do media for at least one season, like his predecessor Bill Cowher. All options will be available to him after next season," Schultz reported.
The Athletic's Andrew Marchand adds that every major network that has football coverage will have interest in Tomlin, but FOX is considered the favorite.
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