Le'Veon Bell knows the Pittsburgh exit well. That's why he had a message ready for Mike Tomlin after the longtime Steelers coach decided to step away after 19 seasons.
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"Go to where (you're) celebrated Coach T," Bell wrote on X.
Bell, the former Pro Bowl running back for the Steelers, understands how quickly things can turn in that building. He also made clear that Tomlin wasn't fired. The decision was Tomlin's, and his rights remain held by the Steelers. If he wants to coach elsewhere right away, a team would need to work out a trade. Or Tomlin could simply take a breath after nearly two decades on the job.
Where he goes next is the real question. Some around the league believe Tomlin could slide seamlessly into television, where executives are always looking for a big name with instant credibility. ESPN's Peter Schrager has suggested there would be no shortage of interest.
Others think Tomlin will coach again, especially with nine openings around the league. Teams like the New York Giants have already rolled out the red carpet for former Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
Steelers .. need .. help ..
plain and simple
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) January 13, 2026
Bell's words hint at something deeper. He knows what it's like to feel underappreciated in Pittsburgh. His own exit came after a bitter standoff in 2018, when he sat out the entire season before signing with the Jets.
Tomlin delivered a Super Bowl and nearly two decades of stability. The results at the end were harder to stomach. Bell, from experience, is suggesting there may be better appreciation waiting elsewhere.
"Having worked at Fox, having worked at NFL Network, and now here at ESPN, there's a chair waiting ... for Mike Tomlin to make a lot of money talking football if he so wishes."
- Peter Schrager on the possibility of Mike Tomlin taking a TV job pic.twitter.com/EVR86anOMj
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 31, 2025
