Mike Tomlin Cracks Perfect One-Liner to Start Presser Days After Storming Off Podium

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin cracked a good joke to open his press conference on Thursday.

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin met with the media on Thursday for the first time since abruptly leaving his press conference on Monday when asked about his future with the team. 

In his postgame press conference after the Steelers’ loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday evening, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor began her question to Tomlin by stating, “Mike, you have a year left on your contract.” Before Pryor could even finish the question, Tomlin stepped away from the podium and walked out of the room. 

But Tomlin was in a much better mood when he met with reporters on Thursday. 

Mike Tomlin: "Good afternoon. In a little better mood today, anybody got any contract questions?" pic.twitter.com/gDnIEh5roF

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) January 18, 2024

He began his press conference with a hearty “Good afternoon!” and then cracked a joke.

“In a little better mood today,” Tomlin quipped, “anybody got any contract questions?”

Tomlin also addressed his decision to walk out of the press conference more seriously. 

“I’ll say this, I certainly could have handled that situation better than I did,” he said. “But I’ll also say this: I just believe there’s a time and place for everything, and postgame press conferences are probably not the place to address contract issues and things of that nature. It’s just a very individual thing. And on gameday, I doubt any of us are in that mindset. Certainly, I am not.”