Mike Tomlin floated for Penn State job by Pittsburgh Steelers legend
By David Wasson
Published:
Penn State is still casting about looking for its replacement for James Franklin, but at least one Pro Football Hall of Famer is thinking outside the box for the Nittany Lions.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger offered current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin as an option amid speculation that the NFL team might end up parting ways with the NFL’s longest-tenured coach after the 2025 season.
“Maybe it’s a clean-house time. Maybe it’s time,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday on his Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast. “I like Coach Tomlin. I have a lot of respect for Coach Tomlin, but maybe it’s best for him, too.
“Maybe a fresh start for him is what’s best. Whether that’s in the pros, maybe go be Penn State’s head coach. You know what he would do in Penn State? He would probably go win national championships, because he’s a great recruiter.”
The 53-year-old Tomlin has earned 189 regular-season victories during his 19 seasons with the Steelers, and his .625 career winning percentage is the best in franchise history. But the Steelers have not won the AFC North since 2020 and have not won a playoff game since January 2017. Tomlin last coached in college in 1997, serving as a wide receivers coach at Arkansas State.
Penn State fired Franklin in October yet still entered Wednesday’s Early Signing Period without a head coach. The Nittany Lions were reportedly pursuing BYU’s Kalani Sitake, but Sitake announced Tuesday that he will stay at BYU.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
