Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II made it clear Wednesday that the decision to step away belonged solely to coach Mike Tomlin.
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"It was his decision," Rooney said. "I wasn't shocked, but I wasn't expecting that conversation yesterday either."
Rooney indicated the move was driven more by personal considerations than football, though he was careful not to put words in Tomlin's mouth.
"Probably more of a family-related decision than a football-related decision," Rooney said. "But I don't want to speak for Mike on that."
What Rooney did not hesitate to do was praise Tomlin's impact on the organization. Tomlin spent 19 seasons leading the Steelers, never posting a losing record and winning a Super Bowl in 2009 along the way.
"Mike informed me of his decision to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it was an emotional day for everybody," Rooney said. "Mike has been a great leader of our franchise for 19 years and led us with toughness, integrity, and always reflected the values of our organization."
Rooney also emphasized the consistency Tomlin brought to the job, even as postseason success became harder to come by in recent years.
"We were always in contention with Mike, and that's what counts," Rooney said. "He represented the Steelers with class and dignity every single day."
After nearly two decades, the Rooney family is turning the page. Tomlin, meanwhile, leaves behind one of the most stable and respected coaching tenures in modern NFL history.
