Aaron Rodgers’ tearful response to Mike Tomlin after coach stepped down
Aaron Rodgers sobbed as he apologized to Mike Tomlin repeatedly after the Steelers’ coach stepped down Tuesday after 19 years at the helm, according to The Athletic.
The former four-time MVP quarterback was visibly upset as teammates reportedly heard him say, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” to Tomlin, who had just delivered the news in the team meeting room.
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Rodgers made it clear when he signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh last June that he wanted to play for Tomlin.
“No,” star outside linebacker T.J. Watt repeatedly said as his eyes filled with tears during Tomlin’s speech, according to The Athletic, which spoke with a half-dozen players, coaches and staff members in the room.
Tomlin — who never finished below .500 in the regular season but hadn’t won a playoff game since 2016 — addressed his team privately after informing team owner Art Rooney II that he was stepping away to spend time with his family.
“In the business of the NFL, there’s consequences for not doing your job,” Tomlin told his team. “As a professional in this business, you have to live with those consequences. Some of us will be here next year; some of us won’t.
“Guys, I want you to hear this from me first … I just met with Art Rooney and (general manager) Omar (Khan). I think it’s best for the organization for me to step down. I want it to be better for you guys, because I care so much about you guys.”
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. — who is the son of a Steelers legend and grew up with Tomlin’s son, Dino — reportedly was almost hyperventilating during Tomlin’s speech.
The coach received a standing ovation from every player in the room afterward.
Tomlin tipped his cap and walked to the door before every player hugged him on their way out, according to The Athletic.
“It felt like a funeral,” one staff member said. “I teared up. It’s like finding out your dad died.”
The majority of the players reportedly felt guilty and somewhat responsible for Tomlin’s exit after a 30-6 wild-card loss to the Texans on Monday night made it nine years since he had won in the playoffs.
“Fire Tomlin” chants blared during a 26-7 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 13.
Despite the outside noise, Tomlin had the support of locker room until the very end.
“Mike T.’s had more success than damn-near anybody in the league for the last 19-20 years,” Rodgers said after the defeat to Houston.
“More than that, though, when you have the right guy and the culture is right, you don’t think about making a change.”
During a press conference Wednesday, Rooney II said he went into his end-of-season conversation with Tomlin “willing to take another run at it next year” but things “went in a different direction.”
Tomlin has two years remaining on his deal with Pittsburgh.
“Mike indicated that he did not anticipate coaching, at least in the near future,” Rooney said when asked on pursuing compensation if Tomlin were to coach elsewhere.
“I think he wants to spend time with his family and do some of the kinds of things he hasn’t been able to do for the last many, many years.
“If something like that comes up, we’ll deal with it when it comes up. But right now, that doesn’t seem to be on his radar.”
Rooney said he and Khan will lead the search for their next head coach.
Tomlin coached the club to a Super Bowl title, defeating the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, in 2009 — two seasons after he replaced Bill Cowher.
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