Bisciotti Reacts to Tomlin’s Departure

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti expressed shock and amusement during a press conference on Tuesday after hearing about Mike Tomlin’s resignation as Steelers head coach after 19 seasons.

“Oh my God… wouldn’t that be amazing,” a smiling Bisciotti responded when asked if Tomlin could be considered for Baltimore’s head coaching position following John Harbaugh’s exit. “Only if John takes the Pittsburgh job. Wow, that would be something,” he added.

Seems like Bisciotti was genuinely caught off guard by the news, even quipping that Tomlin might not be the right choice for the Ravens given that Baltimore was eliminated from playoff contention by Pittsburgh just the week prior, losing 26-24.

“I’m not sure, maybe that game last week disqualified him from our opening after our kicker missed that 44-yard attempt,” he joked, reflecting on Tomlin’s playful interaction with him during the Steelers’ win.

“Mike was great… tell him I said that. I’ve respected Mike for all these years. It’s surprising he made this decision, but it’s definitely wild,” Bisciotti shared, hinting at the long-standing rivalry between the Steelers and Ravens in the AFC North.

The Steelers recently faced a tough 30-6 defeat against the Texans in the Wild Card Round.

Tomlin announced his resignation to Steelers president Art Rooney II during a meeting on Tuesday. Rooney expressed his gratitude for Tomlin’s dedication over the years, stating, “It’s hard to find the right words to convey the respect I have for Coach Tomlin.” He highlighted Tomlin’s accomplishments, including leading the team to its sixth Super Bowl championship and making the playoffs 13 times, along with eight AFC North titles.

Some early news reports suggest that Tomlin might be a strong candidate for a television position at Fox.

Meanwhile, Harbaugh’s dismissal came about after Baltimore failed to qualify for the playoffs this season, though he remains a popular candidate for other coaching vacancies.

Tomlin holds the distinction of never finishing a season below .500, boasting 201 career wins, which places him tenth in NFL history. However, it’s worth noting that the Steelers have not secured a playoff win since 2016. Tomlin did guide the franchise to a Super Bowl victory in 2009 against the Arizona Cardinals.