{"id":1782,"date":"2026-01-16T03:17:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:17:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/aaron-rodgers-sobbed-when-steelers-coach-mike-tomlin-stepped-down\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T03:17:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:17:14","slug":"aaron-rodgers-sobbed-when-steelers-coach-mike-tomlin-stepped-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/aaron-rodgers-sobbed-when-steelers-coach-mike-tomlin-stepped-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Aaron Rodgers Sobbed When Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin Stepped Down"},"content":{"rendered":"


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There was a somber mood around the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, January 13, when head coach Mike Tomlin<\/strong> told his team he was stepping down. Even the stoic Aaron Rodgers<\/strong> broke down in tears, according to The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Steelers beat writer Mike DeFabo<\/strong> spoke with players, coaches and staff members around the team about that emotional meeting, reporting that Rodgers, 42, \u201cthrough sobs, mustered a two-word message to deliver to his coach: \u2018I\u2019m sorry,\u2019 several players heard him say. \u2018I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m sorry.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s in line with what Rodgers told the media publicly prior to Tomlin, 53, making his decision. After the Steelers\u2019 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans on Monday, January 12, the Steelers quarterback defended his coach after another year of coming up short.<\/p>\n

\u201cMike T\u2019s had more success than damn-near anybody in the league for the last 19-20 years,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cMore than that, though, when you have the right guy and the culture is right, you don\u2019t think about making a change.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Related: <\/span>Aaron Rodgers Doesn\u2019t Want to Talk About What It Means to Face Jets<\/span>
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\n\t\t\tReporters hoping for a juicy quote from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers about what it will be like to face his former team the New York Jets will be sorely disappointed. Rodgers, 41, was, shall we say, succinct when asked whether the Steelers\u2019 season opener was different from any other game, given the opponent. \u201cYeah,\u201d [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Tomlin took over as Steelers head coach in 2007 and enjoyed immediate success, taking Pittsburgh to the playoffs in his first year and winning the Super Bowl his second season. The Steelers finished .500 or better every season under Tomlin, winning the AFC North eight times along the way, but the franchise never returned to the NFL mountaintop.<\/p>\n

With Pittsburgh winless in the playoffs since 2016, Tomlin (not to mention some vocal Steelers fans) felt like it was time for a change.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the business of the NFL, there\u2019s consequences for not doing your job,\u201d he told his team, according to The Athletic<\/em>. \u201cAs a professional in this business, you have to live with those consequences. Some of us will be here next year; some of us won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tomlin continued, \u201cGuys, I want you to hear this from me firs.I just met with Art Rooney<\/strong> and [general manager] Omar [Khan]<\/strong>. I think it\u2019s best for the organization for me to step down.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Related: <\/span>Steelers\u2019 Mike Tomlin Shades Aaron Rodgers With Blunt Take on His Game<\/span>
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\n\t\t\tPittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been in the NFL long enough to know when his performance isn\u2019t getting it done. His head coach, Mike Tomlin, could say the same. Asked how he would assess Rodgers\u2019 game in Pittsburgh\u2019s 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, November 9, , Tomlin, 53, was blunt. [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIt felt like a funeral,\u201d a staff member reportedly said. \u201cI teared up. It\u2019s like finding out your dad died.\u201d<\/p>\n

One player told The Athletic<\/em> indicated he was surprised by Tomlin\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n

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