Mike Tomlin Calls Out NFL Owners Over Lack of Black Head Coaches
Mike Tomlin, now an NBC analyst in his first season away from an NFL sideline in 19 years, said accountability for the league's shrinking number of Black head coaches lies with owners. The NFL enters 2026 with just three Black head coaches.
In a wide-ranging interview with NBC's Craig Melvin, former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the NFL's ongoing struggle to diversify its head coaching ranks. "Guys like me get asked that question all the time, and we're talking around it, but the reality is, no, it's those people that own teams that make critical decisions," Tomlin said. "I respect the question, but ask them."
The comments come after a record-tying 10 teams had head coaching vacancies last cycle, yet the league still enters this season with only three Black head coaches: Todd Bowles of Tampa Bay, DeMeco Ryans of Houston, and Aaron Glenn of the New York Jets.
Tomlin, who spent 19 seasons on Pittsburgh's sideline before stepping away, is now working as an analyst for NBC Sports.