"Yeah, that's easy," the former Pittsburgh-Steelers-coach-turned-analyst said, "I thought you had a tough one: That's the NFC West, man.It's 'The Game of Thrones' out west."Everyone dies."SUPER BOWL-WINNING COACH MIKE TOMLIN LANDS NBC ROLE ON 'FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA' BROADCASTTomlin earlier discussed what he's expecting out of his first NFL season away from the sideline."I'm looking forward to going undefeated," he joked.And with that we got a glimpse why there are such high expectations for Tomlin in his rookie season on the pregame show prior to NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcast.In those moments, Tomlin was Tomlin.
He was candid, pithy, insightful and even funny.Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, right, talks to an official during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Aug.13, 2022, in Pittsburgh.
(AP Photo/Fred Vuich)But to say the once dynamic coach and leader was that during the rest of this one-hour broadcast is wrong.He wasn't.
He was, instead, kind of scripted.Rehearsed.Tame.So, he's got some growing to do.We have no idea if Tomlin will tell producers to spare him their stay-safe broadcasting advice and give himself time to grow and loosen up.He might decide this season's work with NBC is a one-and-done experience and return to an NFL sideline next offseason.But for the 22 shows NBC will broadcast from September through January, the hope is Tomlin does on air what he wanted his players to do on the field:Go to work with his hair on fire.Let loose.Be himself.Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin stands on the sidelines before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Jan.
12, 2026.(Barry Reeger/Imagn Images)(Confession: I'm a Tomlin admirer.
Once the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl, and having taken his Steelers to two Super Bowls, 13 postseason berths and eight AFC North titles without a losing season, I'll vote for Tomlin's i...