triblive
In his Thursday First Call, Mike Tomlin addressed the possibility of returning to coaching, offering a more nuanced view than in the past. Several years ago, when asked about college football programs that might court him, Tomlin famously remarked, 'Never say never, but never.' Now, the former Steelers head coach is easing that stance when discussing a potential NFL comeback.
Tomlin stepped down as Pittsburgh's head coach in January after a 19-year tenure. Currently serving as a pregame television analyst, he was queried by NBC colleague Cris Collinsworth about whether he might return to the NFL sidelines. Tomlin's response suggested that while certain teams may not appeal to him, he isn't closing the door on the league entirely.
"It's certainly not a 32-team league for me," Tomlin said. "I've lived too much for that. But I've also learned to never say never. And so, will I coach again? I don't know. I love to coach. I love all the challenges of the profession. I love to be part of an individual growth and development of young people individually. I love to develop a collective. I love the measurement of the seven-day cycle. I love all that."
However, Tomlin appears satisfied with his current situation. "I also have enjoyed the last six months and life on the other side that I had no idea about," he added. The New York Jets have already been rumored to have interest in hiring Tomlin next year.
Injury Blow for Patriots
Just one game into his New England Patriots tenure, wide receiver A.J. Brown has suffered an injury. The Patriots are set to host the Steelers in Week 2. The three-time Pro Bowler was hurt in the third quarter on Wednesday when Nehemiah Pritchett's knee appeared to pin Brown's ankle to the turf while both were diving for a Drake Maye pass.
ESPN.com's Mike Reiss reported that the former Eagle left in a walking boot after the game. Head Coach Mike Vrabel provided no update. Prior to the injury, Brown had three catches for 24 yards. The Patriots lost the Super Bowl rematch to the Seattle Seahawks 13-10 in this year's NFL opener. Seattle had to play most of the game without Sam Darnold, who was also injured. However, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says the Seahawks quarterback probably avoided major injury.
Pirates Keep Rolling
The Pirates not only defeated the American League Central Division-leading Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Wednesday but also clinched the series by winning a second game before Thursday's Game 3 finale. It's the fifth straight series win for the Bucs, who are back up to .500 at 73-73.
They also picked up ground in the wild card standings because the Arizona Diamondbacks (78-69) lost to Kansas City 5-2. Bobby Witt Jr. homered and collected three RBIs on the day for the Royals. However, San Diego (78-68) clobbered Washington 9-2 for a fourth consecutive win. So that means the Pirates only gained a half-game in the standings as the Padres slipped into the final playoff slot by a half-game in front of Arizona.
Pittsburgh is now 5 games behind San Diego, and 4.5 behind the D-Backs. They are also 1.5 games ahead of St. Louis and Miami (both 72-75). The Cardinals and Marlins both lost Wednesday. The Pirates try for a sweep of Chicago on Thursday night. Jared Jones (3-6, 4.46 ERA) is scheduled to start. Rookie Hagen Smith will pitch for the White Sox. This will be his first start of the year. In 10 bullpen appearances, he is 3-1 with a 0.56 ERA.
Robert Morris Earning Recognition
The Robert Morris football team is receiving recognition for its strong start to 2026. The Colonials have won the first two games of the season. RMU beat conference foe Wagner 28-7 on the road to open the season. Then Bernard Clark's team toppled West Virginia State 29-9 at home on Saturday.
As a result, RMU got 13 votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll. The school is the only NEC team to receive votes this week. The Colonials have not been ranked inside the Top 25 since the 2010 season. Robert Morris plays up against an FBS squad this week. Clark and company are heading to Akron to play the Zips at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Originally reported by triblive.