Dave Dameshek stated on his Football America podcast that Mike Tomlin does not want the Pittsburgh Steelers to succeed in the 2026 postseason.
Dameshek said Tomlin cleaned out his office recently after nearly 20 years as head coach. He added that Tomlin's history of postseason struggles might make him reluctant to see the team advance without him.
The comments came after Tomlin stepped down this offseason. The Steelers are not rebuilding and aim to compete for a championship in 2026.
Dameshek compared the situation to a former colleague hoping colleagues fail on a trip without him. He said fans should not expect Tomlin to celebrate if the team reaches January or February.
Other observers noted Tomlin's close ties to players like T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward, suggesting he would likely support their success.