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Mike Tomlin’s outspoken analysis might be rubbing off on other NFL coaches-turned-TV analysts.
Since the Super Bowl–winning former Steelers coach debuted on NBC’s Football Night in America this season, I’ve noticed other ex-coaches turned analysts becoming more pointed in their commentary about current coaches and players.
For way too long, the de facto TV approach of ex-coaches was to go soft on their brethren. That’s because NFL head coaches are one of the most exclusive fraternities on the face of the earth. Even if they take a TV job, most play it safe with their commentary until they can return to the league. Why tick off a current coach or owner when they might offer a job in your future?
But Tomlin was so successful in Pittsburgh that he doesn’t have to worry about his next gig. He knows multiple owners will throw millions at him if he wants to return to the sideline. The 54-year-old is just letting it fly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tomlin’s tell-it-like-it-is attitude is rubbing off on other analysts.
Take ESPN’s Rex Ryan. The former Jets coach doesn’t hesitate to rip players for their mistakes. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ryan tune up a coach like he did with Dan Quinn of the Commanders on Monday’s Get Up with Mike Greenberg.
As the cast discussed how and why Washington inexplicably allowed the clock to run out rather than attempting a game-winning field goal, Ryan could have tried to make excuses for Quinn. Instead, he placed the blame for the Commanders’ “atrocious” decision-making squarely on the coach himself.
To add insult to injury, Ryan said the former Falcons coach has to own the two worst examples of clock mismanagement in NFL history. Namely, Sunday’s 27–27 inexplicable tie with the Giants, and the Falcons choking away a 28–3 lead to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI only to lose 34–28 in overtime.
“Dan Quinn? Good guy. He’ll never talk to me. Because I’m going to tell the truth,” Ryan told Greenberg. “We saw the worst clock management ever in a Super Bowl right? He owns that one. How about he owns this one too? This stuff right here gets you fired. Dan’s a great guy, whatever… But not for long when you manage games like this. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Ryan also mocked David Blough, Washington’s rookie 30-year-old offensive coordinator, for trying to get too clever by half with his play-calling with the game there for the taking.
“You’re smarter than all the damn coaches? No, you’re not. You totally blew the game,” said Ryan about the former backup quarterback.
But if Tomlin’s rival analysts at other NFL media partners want to match his blunt intensity and incisiveness, they’ll have to work at it.
On Sunday night, Tomlin blasted Giants running back Cam Skattebo for fumbling in overtime with New York in field goal range. As a veteran of the cutthroat AFC North, Tomlin knows the value of the Giants registering a win against an NFC East rival like the Commanders.
“I’d describe it as disgusting. Division wins are too precious in the National Football League. I was disgusted by the Skattebo fumble. I threw up in my mouth a little bit at the end of the game,” Tomlin told host Maria Taylor.
Don’t ever change, Coach Tomlin. You’re making NFL TV a better place. Now, if NBC can only get him to call games, we might have the next John Madden—if there ever can be another John Madden.
