Mike Tomlin built a reputation for never suffering a losing season in 19 years as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, in his first year as an analyst on NBC's Sunday Night Football pregame show, he is drawing attention for something else: a willingness to criticize current coaches that most of his broadcast peers avoid.
During Sunday night's coverage, Tomlin dissected the closing sequence of the Baltimore Ravens' 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys and placed the blame squarely on the Cowboys' coaching staff, led by head coach Brian Schottenheimer. The game was tied at 31 with seven seconds remaining in regulation when Dallas kicked off into the end zone for a touchback rather than keeping the ball in play to burn precious seconds off the clock.
«The sequence played by the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the game in Rio was somewhat negligent, to be quite honest with you,» Tomlin said on the broadcast. He explained that Baltimore took possession at its own 35-yard line and completed a significant pass down the middle to top receiver Zay Flowers, setting up the game-winning field goal. Tomlin noted that Dallas was playing outside-leverage man-to-man coverage, got caught in one-on-one matchups, and Flowers won his route.
The ultimate responsibility for the defensive call, Tomlin implied, rests with Schottenheimer. His critique was notable because former coaches-turned-broadcasters rarely single out active head coaches for direct criticism, with Rex Ryan being a rare exception.
The fallout in Dallas was immediate. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones demanded an explanation for the late-game decisions. During his regular Tuesday appearance on 105.3 The Fan in the Dallas area, Jones made clear he was not satisfied with what he heard. «Well, there is no explanation you're satisfied with,» Jones said. «None. Let's be sure that we all understand that. They don't have one that they're satisfied with. We made mistakes during that time. There's no question about it. So there is no explanation.»
Tomlin's willingness to explain what should have happened sends an implicit message: that is how he would have handled the situation. That has fueled speculation, though no reporting suggests Tomlin is actively pursuing the Cowboys job, that he could be positioning himself for a return to coaching in Dallas if the opportunity arises. Tomlin has not said whether he wants to coach again next year, nor has he ruled it out.
There is precedent for a broadcaster using a television platform to campaign for a coaching job. In 1995, former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson frequently commented on the Fox pregame show about how talented the Miami Dolphins were and how they should be performing better under then-coach Don Shula. The implication was clear to observers in Miami: Johnson, who had coached at the University of Miami and lived in Key West, wanted the Dolphins job. Shula was forced out in January 1996, and Johnson was hired a week later. Shula, believing he had been undermined, never forgave Johnson.
Whether Tomlin continues to critique Schottenheimer and his staff will determine whether the speculation grows. For now, his sharp analysis has made him a more compelling television presence and raised the question of whether he is eyeing a return to the sideline — possibly in Dallas.