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Pittsburgh Steelers players shared details of Mike Tomlin’s emotional final meeting with the team, and former NFL star JJ Watt took issue with the players.
Watt, whose brother TJ Watt is mentioned in the report as being saddened by Tomlin’s departure, felt the moment could have stayed in the locker room. JJ Watt retweeted a paragraph from The Athletic report in which Aaron Rodgers told Tomlin he was sorry, between sobs.
“I feel like this moment could have been left in the meeting room,” Watt wrote on X.
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JJ Watt (99) of the Arizona Cardinals runs onto the field during player introductions before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on January 8, 2023. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
TJ Watt had always been a big supporter of Tomlin, even saying in his contract negotiations that he didn’t want to play for anyone but the veteran head coach. As Tomlin told the team he was resigning, Watt repeatedly said “No,” as his eyes filled with tears.
JJ Watt added that she would have preferred those inside the room to keep the intimate details to themselves rather than share them.
That meeting was the last of Tomlin’s historic tenure with the Steelers. In 19 seasons, Tomlin went 193-114-2 and won the AFC North eight times, reached the Super Bowl twice and won once.
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker TJ Watt (90) warms up before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 4, 2026. (Charles LeClaire/Image Images)
It’s unclear if Tomlin wants to coach next season or if he wants to take a season off. The 53-year-old is coveted by a litany of television networks that have shown interest in hiring him as an analyst, according to The Athletic.
The Steelers, who are conducting only their fourth head coaching search since 1969, have already completed interviews or have interviews scheduled with the following candidates, according to multiple reports:
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) leave the field after an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Nate Scheelhaase – Los Angeles Rams Passing Game Coordinator
Chris Shula – Rams defensive coordinator
Anthony Weaver – defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins
Jesse Minter – Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator
Brian Flores – defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings
Ejiro Evero – defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers
Jeff Hafley – Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator
Klay Kubiak – offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers
