Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh were NFL rivals for nearly two decades in the AFC North. The now former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach is beginning a new chapter in his life as a broadcaster, and he will have the privilege of being present for the Sunday Night Football clash between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, where he has already chosen his favorite.
“Oh, it’s gonna be great for the Giants,” Tomlin said on Monday at an NBCUniversal event at Radio City Music Hall. “You know, having competed against [Harbaugh] for 18 years over the same divisional territory, one thing I don’t know about his group, they’ll certainly be ready.
“And by that, I mean, there will be a hard buy-in to the team development process that’ll be appropriate to have ready to go week one. And secondarily, man, they’ll be a highly-conditioned group.“
Now far removed from having to defend the interests of his beloved Steelers on the field, Tomlin is beginning to offer his first thoughts on what lies ahead. He clearly knows Harbaugh firsthand and understands that he will be a tough opponent to face.
Head coach Mike Tomlin.
What is Mike Tomlin’s new role?
Mike Tomlin has transitioned into the media world after stepping down as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 2026. He has officially joined NBC Sports as a studio analyst for “Football Night in America,” the network’s premier pregame show for Sunday Night Football.
While he spent 19 years on the sidelines, he will now use his extensive experience to provide expert analysis alongside Maria Taylor and the rest of the NBC crew starting this fall.
“It gives me an opportunity to stay close to the game that we all love, and share with fellow lovers, and learn something along the way,” Tomlin said.
The first blockbuster matchup in the NFL
The first Sunday Night Football game of the 2026 season will take place on September 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The matchup features a classic NFC East rivalry as the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, marking the highly anticipated Giants debut for head coach John Harbaugh.
