NFL insider reveals AFC team is heavily interested in Mike Tomlin after Steelers departure

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a new head coach.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler reported on Tuesday that Mike Tomlin is stepping down as Steelers head coach. Pittsburgh's blowout defeat to the Houston Texans on Monday in the wild-card round will be Tomlin's final game as the franchise's head coach.

"Breaking: After a historic 19-season run in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin just informed his team that he is stepping down as the Steelers head coach," Schefter reported.

Tomlin now hits the market, looking for a new job after 19 years in Pittsburgh. Though he is expected to take a break from coaching and find a position on TV with a network covering the NFL, an AFC team could be preparing for a heavy pursuit of Tomlin for their vacant head coaching gig.

According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, the Miami Dolphins have Tomlin at the top of their head coaching candidates list, along with former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

Here is what a source told Anderson:

"John Harbaugh & Mike Tomlin are at the top of the (Miami Dolphins) wish list (at head coach)," a league source said again just now. We'll see...if the Dolphins can pull either off. It takes two to tango."

Anderson adds that Tomlin could command over $20 million annually in a head coaching contract.

Bringing in Tomlin to replace Mike McDaniel, who Miami fired on January 8, would be a home run hire by the Dolphins. However, it's not looking likely that Tomlin will coach in Miami next season.

Armando Salguero of FOX Sports reported that Tomlin isn't expected to go to the Dolphins and is instead planning to spend time with family and evaluate his options for the foreseeable future.

"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 on X.

The warm weather in Miami could intrigue Tomlin, but it would be a shock if he took the Dolphins' job. It will more than likely be TV for Tomlin in 2026, but we'll see what transpires.