Although he's shifting to a media gig this year, Mike Tomlin could return as a highly desired head coaching candidate next offseason. The New York Jets already could be positioning themselves to hire him. According to Casino.org's Jason La Canfora, the Jets have conducted "preliminary groundwork" in pursuit of Tomlin.
An anonymous executive told the NFL insider that owner Woody Johnson is interested in bringing the former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach back to the sideline. "Woody is starting to ask a lot of questions; he’s doing his homework on Tomlin," the executive said. Mike is in New York at Rockefeller Center for NBC, Woody is back in charge at the facility, and he knows how steep the competition will be.
You are going to hear a lot about the Jets." La Canfora noted that Tomlin would command a "top-of-market contract" and "significant authority over football operations," but he'd also represent a huge addition for the Jets. The Steelers never posted a losing record during Tomlin's 19 seasons as head coach, and the Jets haven't had a winning season since 2015. The Jets went 3-14 in Aaron Glenn's first season as head coach.
The former NFL cornerback maintained the job, but one general manager claimed Glenn is entering 2026 as a lame duck. "Glenn is a dead man walking, and he knows it," the GM said. "I hear the same thing about Woody wanting Tomlin.
It makes complete sense — money won’t be an object." Furthermore, the Jets could try to drastically change their fortunes by aligning Tomlin with a longtime division rival. League executives told La Canfora that Lamar Jackson could pursue trade options amid ongoing extension talks, and the Baltimore Ravens quarterback would "strongly evaluate" the possibility of playing for Tomlin in North Jersey. "The pair share a deep mutual respect built over years of AFC North battles, and New York’s defensive core provides an immediate foundation for a contender," La Canfora wrote.
"Combined with Johnson’s history of pursuing marquee names and Tomlin’s preference for veteran quarterbacks, the alignment is clear."
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