Gerry Dulac: Mike Tomlin still provides lots of value to Steelers -- for now

Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jan 17, 2026

Published in Football

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PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin's decision to walk away from approximately $16 million to $17 million when he could have remained at least another year as Steelers coach had the possibility of eventually becoming a beneficial bonanza for the franchise.

Because the Steelers own the rights to Tomlin for one more year, they could have done what eight other teams in the modern-era have done — traded him to another team and reaped a boatload of top draft picks.

But given the circumstances surrounding his decision to suddenly resign Tuesday — and owner Art Rooney II saying he wanted Tomlin to be the coach in 2026 — the possibility appears to be nothing more than a whimsical dalliance now.

Tomlin had two years remaining on a three-year, $50 million contract extension he signed in June 2024. But the final year in his contract was a team option and voided when he stepped down after 19 years as Steelers coach. That means the team retains his rights for only one more season.

After the 2026 season, Tomlin becomes a free agent and can sign with any team if he chooses to return to coaching. The Steelers would get nothing in return, or so it would appear.

That is more likely to occur than the Steelers trading him any time before then, though anything is possible in the wacky, impulsive world of the NFL.

Look at the possibility of what the Steelers might have obtained if they were somehow able to trade the coach who is tied for ninth (with Chuck Noll) in all-time NFL victories.

The Miami Dolphins gave up a No. 1 pick to acquire Don Shula, the league's all-time winningest coach, from the Baltimore Colts in 1970.

In 1997, the New York Jets traded a first-, second-, third- and fourth-round pick to the New England Patriots to acquire the rights to Bill Parcells.

Three years later, the Patriots gave a first-, fourth- and fifth-round pick to the Jets in exchange for Bill Belichick — one day after Belichick was named the Jets head coach then famously resigned on a napkin.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave up two first-round and two second-round picks, plus $8 million, to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for Jon Gruden in 2002. Gruden led the Bucs to the Super Bowl title in his first year.

Two years ago, the Denver Broncos acquired the rights to Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a first- and third-round pick.

Imagine what Tomlin would have fetched the Steelers.

There were also three other times in the past 30 years coaches were traded, though for much less compensation.

In 1999, the Seattle Seahawks acquired the rights to Mike Holmgren from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a second-round pick.

In 2006, the Kansas City Chiefs traded a fourth-round pick to the Jets to get Herman Edwards, who was fired after three losing seasons.

And in 2019, Tampa Bay gave a sixth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for the rights to Bruce Arians, who was still under contract after resigning in the middle of the 2018 season. Arians led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship two years later.

But maybe the Steelers should keep this in mind because of the option in Tomlin's contract:

Because the Cardinals held the rights to Arians through the 2019 season as part of a team option included in his contract, the NFL initially said no compensation was necessary for Arians to sign with Tampa Bay.

However, the Cardinals held up the procedure and insisted on compensation. The two sides eventually agreed on the deal in which the Cardinals received a sixth-round selection in exchange for Arians and a seventh-round pick.