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When Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 historic seasons, the football world immediately began speculating about his next move.
While rumors continue to swirl about a potential return to the NFL sideline down the road, former Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree believes his former head coach has permanently closed the chapter on his coaching career.
Speaking on defensive captain Cameron Heyward’s podcast, “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” Dupree admitted his initial surprise when news broke of Tomlin’s departure, but offered a definitive prediction regarding the future of the iconic leader.
"I don't even know if I can see him coaching no more now that he gonna go do TV," Dupree said. "Uh but it definitely surprised me. Uh, but you know, you keep hearing media, you keep hearing things in the media was going on and uh, I feel like he stepped on in his own time."
Dupree, who Pittsburgh drafted in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, reflected fondly on Tomlin’s coaching philosophy and unvarnished communication style. He highlighted Tomlin’s brutal honesty during training camp evaluation sessions as a defining trait of his tenure.
"Tomlin was a great, great part of my career. Uh, great, you know, a great person that always told me the truth," Dupree recalled. "It ain't no hiding like if you it and it's going to let you understand your role. It's going to let you understand how you stand with a team, what you got to do to get better."
With Tomlin transitioning into broadcasting, Dupree believes the former Super Bowl champion will thrive on television rather than returning to the 365-day coaching grind. For a coach who spent nearly two decades setting the standard in Pittsburgh, Dupree insists Tomlin walked away on his own terms and won't look back.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Bud Dupree predicts Mike Tomlin is done coaching and headed to TV
