Aaron Rodgers likens Mike Tomlin’s presence to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
Aaron Rodgers likens Mike Tomlin’s presence to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
Aaron Rodgers says playing under Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh gave him a firsthand look at a level of charisma he has only otherwise seen from NBA icons Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Rodgers, who spent the 2025 season as the Steelers’ quarterback, made the comparison while appearing on the Not Just Football with Cam Heyward podcast. He described Tomlin as someone whose arrival changes the atmosphere of a room entirely.
“I’ve been around a few charismatic people in my life, and I would put him on the same level as meeting Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant,” Rodgers said. “When they enter the room, there’s just something different about a highly charismatic person where the energy in the room shifts.”
Beyond star power, Rodgers pointed to Tomlin’s personal investment in his roster. The quarterback said the coach retained details about each player’s background and the people who mattered to them, something Rodgers cited as a reason he wanted to play in Pittsburgh. “He had something personal with every player on the team,” Rodgers said.
Tomlin moves to NBC, but a coaching return isn’t off the table
Tomlin parted ways with the Steelers after the 2025 season and quickly landed in broadcast media, joining NBC as an analyst on Football Night in America. The network is part of Comcast, the media and technology company whose shares closed at $26.33, down about 0.98% from the prior close of $26.59, valuing the company at roughly $92.5 billion. NBC’s NFL studio coverage gives the longtime coach a prominent national platform during his first season away from the sideline.
Still, Tomlin has stopped short of closing the door on coaching again. Speaking on The PFF NFL Show, he indicated that his options would be selective: “It’s certainly not a 32-team league for me. I’ve lived too much for that. But I’ve also learned to never say never.”
He also acknowledged that he has enjoyed the adjustment to life outside of coaching, suggesting any decision about a comeback will not come quickly or easily.
For Rodgers, the assessment is simpler. A single season in Pittsburgh was enough to convince him that Tomlin belongs in the company of the most magnetic figures he has encountered in professional sports — and speculation about a return to a sideline keeps the story relevant around the league.
What to watch
- Any indication from Tomlin about a potential return to coaching, including comments during his Football Night in America appearances this season.
- Rodgers’s future plans following the 2025 campaign in Pittsburgh.
- NBC’s NFL studio coverage under Comcast’s media segment, a recurring subject when the company reports quarterly results.
Source: original release