Mike Tomlin Shares Insight on Steelers vs. Falcons Week 1 Matchup

Mike Tomlin, who led the Pittsburgh Steelers as head coach for many years, now provides analysis for NBC Sports as an NFL analyst. After the season opener between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, Tomlin offered his perspective on the Steelers’ upcoming Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Tomlin’s Comments on Tua Tagovailoa

Tomlin voiced his views on Tua Tagovailoa, the Falcons’ newly appointed starting quarterback. He expressed skepticism about Tagovailoa’s performance based on past experiences, notably when Tagovailoa last played in Pittsburgh.

“It’s less about Aaron [Rodgers] for me, and it’s more about the quarterback on the other side [Tua Tagovailoa]. His last visit to Pittsburgh didn’t go well. I was in the stadium that day. They lost. He got benched,” Tomlin stated.

Recap of Tagovailoa’s Previous Visit

During Tagovailoa’s Miami career, his performance in the 2025 Week 15 game in Pittsburgh was highlighted by Tomlin. Despite throwing for 253 yards, scoring two touchdowns, and getting intercepted once, the team suffered a 28-15 loss. After this game, Tagovailoa was benched for the remaining three games of the season, leading to his replacement by Quinn Ewers.

Tagovailoa’s New Opportunity with the Falcons

Tagovailoa acknowledges that his previous year’s performance was lacking. He expressed optimism about his fresh chance as a starting quarterback with the Falcons.

“It’s not something that I take for granted,” he mentioned earlier this week. “There’s a lot of things I think I could have done better. Turned the ball over, could have played better. My decision making … in terms of last year just wasn’t good.”

Game Details

The game between the Falcons and the Steelers is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Fans are eager to see how both teams and players perform in this season-opening match.