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 on the helm, in keeping with The Athletic.
The previous four-time MVP quarterback was visibly upset as teammates reportedly heard him say, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” to Tomlin, who had simply delivered the information within the workforce assembly room.
Rodgers made it clear when he signed a one-year cope with Pittsburgh final June that he wished to play for Tomlin.
“No,” star exterior linebacker T.J. Watt repeatedly mentioned as his eyes full of tears throughout Tomlin’s speech, in keeping with The Athletic, which spoke with a half-dozen gamers, coaches and workers members within the room.
Tomlin — who by no means completed under .500 within the common season however hadn’t gained a playoff sport since 2016 — addressed his workforce privately after informing workforce proprietor Artwork Rooney II that he was stepping away to spend time along with his household.
“Within the enterprise of the NFL, there’s penalties for not doing all of your job,” Tomlin advised his workforce. “As an expert on this enterprise, you must dwell with these penalties. A few of us can be right here subsequent yr; a few of us gained’t.
“Guys, I need you to listen to this from me first … I simply met with Artwork Rooney and (basic supervisor) Omar (Khan). I believe it’s greatest for the group for me to step down. I need it to be higher for you guys, as a result of I care a lot about you guys.”
Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. — who’s the son of a Steelers legend and grew up with Tomlin’s son, Dino — reportedly was virtually hyperventilating throughout Tomlin’s speech.
The coach obtained a standing ovation from each participant within the room afterward.
Tomlin tipped his cap and walked to the door earlier than each participant hugged him on their means out, in keeping with The Athletic.
“It felt like a funeral,” one workers member mentioned. “I teared up. It’s like discovering out your dad died.”
The vast majority of the gamers reportedly felt responsible and considerably accountable for Tomlin’s exit after a 30-6 wild-card loss to the Texans on Monday evening made it 9 years since he had gained within the playoffs.
“Fireplace Tomlin” chants blared throughout a 26-7 blowout loss to the Buffalo Payments at house in Week 13.
Regardless of the skin noise, Tomlin had the help of locker room till the very finish.
“Mike T.’s had extra success than damn-near anyone within the league for the final 19-20 years,” Rodgers mentioned after the defeat to Houston.
“Greater than that, although, when you will have the appropriate man and the tradition is correct, you don’t take into consideration making a change.”
Throughout a press convention Wednesday, Rooney II mentioned he went into his end-of-season dialog with Tomlin “prepared to take one other run at it subsequent yr” however issues “went in a unique route.”
Tomlin has two years remaining on his cope with Pittsburgh.
“Mike indicated that he didn’t anticipate teaching, not less than within the close to future,” Rooney mentioned when requested on pursuing compensation if Tomlin had been to teach elsewhere.
“I believe he desires to spend time along with his household and do a number of the sorts of issues he hasn’t been capable of do for the final many, a few years.
“If one thing like that comes up, we’ll cope with it when it comes up. However proper now, that doesn’t appear to be on his radar.”
Rooney mentioned he and Khan will lead the seek for their subsequent head coach.
Tomlin coached the membership to a Tremendous Bowl title, defeating the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23, in 2009 — two seasons after he changed Invoice Cowher.
