Other than a written message from Mike Tomlin, we haven’t heard from the outgoing Steelers coach.
According to some reports, there is currently no plan for Tomlin to address the media, but his wife has released a statement through her Instagram page.
Kiya Tomlin, owner of Kiya Tomlin Fashion posted several stories to per page on Friday, saying, in part, “I am incredibly proud of all he has accomplished both on and off the field. Over the past few days, the messages and testimonies shared by current and former players – the men who knew him best – have been deeply moving. They’ve affirmed what I’ve always known to be true about his purpose and character.
Mrs. Tomlin says that her husband’s goal was to be more than a coach.
“From the very beginning, his purpose was clear: to help young men become great individuals. Coaching and fatherhood became the avenues through which he lived out that calling.”
One of the things that Coach Tomlin was criticized for during his tenure was his lack of a coaching tree. His coordinators didn’t move on to bigger roles with other teams.
But, Kiya has a clear response to those critics, pointing out all of the men he helped coach and grow over 30 years of total coaching.
“They are his coaching tree, and that is the achievement we are most proud of,” said Kiya.
Finally, Kiya thanked the people of Pittsburgh.
“Thank you for your support, your words of kindness, and the warm reception our family has received over the last 19 years,” she said.
Kiya also turned Coach Tomlin’s famous phrases into a clothing collection, “The Coach T Collection”. She says she doesn’t know what is never for the collection the site is currently still up.