Mike Tomlin, Now With NBC, Pokes Fun at Browns After Week 1 Blowout
Mike Tomlin, Now With NBC, Pokes Fun at Browns After Week 1 Blowout
Mike Tomlin spent nearly two decades roaming the sideline for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but in his new role as an analyst for NBC’s NFL coverage, the longtime head coach showed he hasn’t lost his feel for the AFC North rivalry — or his flair for a well-timed quip.
During Sunday night’s broadcast, Tomlin weighed in on Cleveland’s lopsided Week 1 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a game that ended 34-10. Drawing on a familiar line, he invoked a phrase associated with former Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, saying, “In the words of my friend JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Browns are the Browns.”
The comment quickly circulated on social media, with a clip of the moment shared widely after the broadcast. Tomlin, who parted ways with Pittsburgh after last season, was previously constrained by the diplomacy his coaching role demanded. In the broadcast booth, those constraints no longer apply.
The remarks land on a Cleveland team facing renewed scrutiny after a season opener that got away early. Quarterback Deshaun Watson’s performance drew criticism, and the deficit against Jacksonville grew to the point that the outcome was largely settled well before the final whistle. The Browns’ task doesn’t get easier in Week 2, when they face a Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad with a high-scoring offense.
Tomlin’s move to NBC places him within Comcast’s media portfolio. Comcast (CMCSA), which operates the NBC broadcast network among its Media segment holdings, saw shares trade at $25.20 on the day, up 0.6% from the prior close of $25.05, giving the company a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion.
For the Browns, the opener reinforced concerns about the offense, and the early-season narrative around the team has focused on whether the roster can stabilize after a difficult start. For Tomlin, meanwhile, the transition from coach to broadcaster has already produced one of the more quotable moments of the young season — a reminder of how the Steelers-Browns rivalry follows analysts into their post-coaching careers.
Source: original release
What to watch
- Cleveland’s Week 2 matchup against Tampa Bay and how the offense responds after the opener.
- Watson’s performance under center in the coming weeks.
- Tomlin’s continued role on NBC’s Sunday night coverage as the season develops.
- Comcast’s next quarterly earnings report for updates on its Media segment.