Mike Tomlin Appears at Georgia Gymnastics Meet Days After Steelers Exit
Mike Tomlin made a public appearance just three days after announcing his departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former head coach traveled to Athens, Georgia, to support his daughter Harley Tomlin at a high-profile gymnastics competition.
Family Support During Top-Ranked Showdown
Tomlin attended the season opener where the No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs faced the No. 2 LSU Tigers. SEC Network cameras captured Tomlin sitting in the stands with his wife, Kiya Tomlin, cheering enthusiastically throughout the event.
His daughter Harley, a sophomore gymnast for the Georgia Bulldogs, delivered one of the night's standout performances. She scored an impressive 9.825 on the floor exercise with an Arabian double, helping Georgia secure a narrow victory over LSU.
The final scores showed Georgia finishing with 197.200 points while LSU recorded 196.850 points. The official Georgia Gymnastics account confirmed the result and announced the team's next meet against Oklahoma scheduled for January 23.
Tomlin's Emotional Farewell to Steelers
Tomlin announced his departure from the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this week after nineteen seasons with the organization. He released a heartfelt public statement expressing gratitude to the team, its leadership, and the fans.
"This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team," Tomlin said. "I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support."
He specifically thanked Steelers Nation for their passion and loyalty, noting that coaching in Pittsburgh represented a unique experience he would always cherish. Tomlin led the Steelers to the playoffs this season, though their campaign ended with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round.
Future Coaching Plans Remain Unclear
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Tomlin is expected to take a break during the 2026 season and likely won't coach another NFL team next year. Former player Ronde Barber suggested on his podcast that Tomlin might be finished with coaching entirely.
For now, Tomlin appears focused on family matters. His presence at his daughter's gymnastics meet signals a shift toward personal priorities following his long tenure with the Steelers.
Strong Father-Daughter Bond
Tomlin has openly expressed his close relationship with Harley in the past. In a 2020 social media post, he wrote, "Even my boys know that Harley is my favorite."
The Tomlin family includes three children - two sons and daughter Harley. While Mike supported Harley at the gymnastics meet, his wife Kiya promoted her NFL apparel brand, Kiya Tomlin Fashion, on Instagram earlier in the week.
Steelers content creator Matthew Lucio shared a clip on social media showing Tomlin applauding his daughter's routine. The video quickly gained attention among sports fans following Tomlin's recent career transition.
