Ben Roethlisberger Reacts on Video to Mike Tomlin Stepping Down as Steelers HC After 19 Seasons

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he didn't expect Mike Tomlin to step down after 19 seasons with the team.

Tomlin announced his departure from the Steelers on Tuesday, the day after his team was eliminated by the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round.

"I'll be honest, I was surprised, a little bit. I was a little shocked," Roethlisberger said on Wednesday's episode of the Channel Seven podcast. "I know there's been a lot of talk, and there's been grumblings, and this that and the other, but I thought Coach, I know him well enough to know that he loves the challenge. He loves to compete. He's a competitor, which— you can't go 19 years and not have a losing season in the NFL, are you kidding me? If you're not a competitor."

Tomlin coached the Steelers from 2007 to 2025, a span that included 15 seasons with Roethlisberger. He led the franchise to a Super Bowl following the 2008 season, but Pittsburgh went the last nine seasons without a playoff win.

He will step away from the Steelers having never recorded a losing record as head coach, capped off with Pittsburgh's 10-7 record in 2025.

"I can't think of another organization that would not be ecstatic with 19 winning seasons," Roethlisberger said. "That's what you strive for. Obviously, you want Lombardis, and you want championships. And he brought that. It's been a while since he's had a playoff win.

"But what Coach Tomlin had brought to this organization, this city, this community... He deserves our respect and our praise for what he brought to this organization."

Tomlin will depart from Pittsburgh with a career 193-114-2 regular-season record (.628 win percentage) as well as an 8-12 mark in the playoffs (.400 win percentage).

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that Tomlin isn't expected to coach in 2026 despite interest from multiple other teams.

Because Tomlin is still under contract with the Steelers, teams would have to give up draft compensation to acquire him if he does decide to return to coaching next season, Rapoport noted.

If Tomlin takes the year off from coaching, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler previously reported there is a possibility he will pursue a media career.

Roethlisberger, who had previously floated Tomlin as a candidate to replace James Franklin at Penn State before the program hired Matt Campbell, said he could see a college coaching career, broadcasting run or return to the NFL working out for Tomlin.

"Whether he decides to get into broadcasting, which he would be really good at, if he wants to go to college and coach, if he wants to stay in the NFL, there are going to be so many doors wide open for him," Roethlisberger said. "He's going to have his choice of places to go, and if a door's not open, they'll open it for him."

In terms of who should be hired as Tomlin's replacement in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger said he felt an internal hire would be a "huge mistake."

That somewhat matched the sentiment expressed in a Wednesday press conference from team president Art Rooney II, who said he doesn't expect the Steelers to consider current staffers as candidates for head coach.

With offensive coordinator Arthur Smith reportedly interviewing for head coaching jobs and Rooney saying Aaron Rodgers' potential return will be impacted by Tomlin's departure, the Steelers could be looking for not just a new head coach but new coordinators and quarterback ahead of the 2026 season.