Deadspin | Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says timing right for new leadership Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin before an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said the timing was right for both him and the organization when he stepped down after 19 seasons without a losing record. Tomlin, who guided the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII in the 2008 season, told NBC on Sunday night in his first interview since resigning in January that the lack of postseason success — no playoff wins since 2016 — figured into what was a difficult decision. “You know, it’s probably not an overnight decision,” said Tomlin, 54. “It’s probably not something that I could articulate or share with people. There’s a loneliness with leadership. “I just thought it was a good time for me personally and by that, I mean, just where I am in life and I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you. We didn’t have success in the playoffs in recent years and there’s just some veteran players there, man, guys like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and (Chris) Boswell, man, that I thought that just were worthy of the excitement and the optimism of new leadership.” Tomlin will join NBC as an NFL pregame show analyst on “Football Night in America,” the network officially announced on Sunday. The show airs ahead of “Sunday Night Football.” “I just thought it would be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it, players, coaches, executives,” Tomlin said, “and excited about doing that on Sunday night and traveling to different venues and getting that feel for the environment and lastly, I just thought it would be awesome to share insight with fellow football lovers. “I love to talk football and so that’s just an exciting component for me. I got to admit, though, there’s going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety, it’s good to be uncomfortable with the growth associated with that. I’m fired up about it.” The Steelers went 10-7 in 2025 with a 30-6 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans on Jan. 12. He was replaced by Pittsburgh native and veteran head coach Mike McCarthy in late January. Tomlin guided the Steelers to the Super Bowl XLIII title with a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in February 2009. Pittsburgh lost Super Bowl XLV to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, 31-25, in February 2011. Tomlin posted a 193-114-2 record with Pittsburgh, tying him with Hall of Fame member Chuck Noll for the most regular-seasons win franchise history and ninth in NFL history. Noll also coached the Steelers (1969-91), with Bill Cowher (1992-2007) bridging the gap between Noll and Tomlin. Rodgers, who played for McCarthy in Green Bay and with Tomlin last season, hasn’t announced his intentions for 2026 — return, retirement or something else. Tomlin predicted Rodgers, 42, will play his 22nd NFL season for the Steelers. “Man, if you got a gun to my head, I’d say it’s AR,” Tomlin said. “I just think, Aaron, I just think being around him for the 12 months that I’m around him, he’s got a love affair with the game of football and not only the game, but the process, the informal moments, the development of younger guys, the interaction with teammates. I think he has an addiction to that, and there’s only one way to feed it. And certainly he is still capable and in really good shape. And so I think at the end of the day, he’ll play football.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Steelers #coach #Mike #Tomlin #timing #leadership

There was a time when this fixture felt less like a league game and more like an annual check on dominance. Two teams turning up to see if the other still remembered how to win.

Now, as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings arrive at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, the mood is different. The names remain heavy, but the form is light. Five titles each, yes. But reputations do not bat at No. 3 or bowl in the PowerPlay. CSK sits sixth. MI, ninth.

Memory vs momentum

Their last meeting this season still lingers. At the Wankhede, CSK beat MI by 103 runs, the latter’s heaviest defeat in the IPL. Akeal Hosein, used shrewdly with two overs in the PowerPlay, went around the wicket to left-handers, disrupting angles and rhythm. In tandem with Noor Ahmad, he reduced MI to a kind of batting paralysis.

And yet, MI still leads the IPL head-to-head 21–19. But that number is ageing. It has won only two of the last nine meetings, and just one since the start of 2023.

Mumbai’s confusion: roles without clarity

Mumbai Indians’ decision-making has lacked conviction. Take the handling of 21-year-old Krish Bhagat. Against Gujarat Titans (GT), in a match MI won, his role was clearly defined early: overs four and six, just 10 runs conceded against a strong top order. But that clarity did not carry forward. Against Chennai Super Kings, Bhagat was held back from the PowerPlay entirely and then used at the death, in overs 16 and 20, where he conceded 31. The inconsistency runs deeper. Bhagat didn’t feature at all in the following game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Impact Player Shardul Thakur was substituted in at the seven-over mark of the second innings but didn’t bowl a single delivery.

“He’s progressing well and working hard to return. We’re monitoring him daily with the medical team. We’ll see how he trains today and assess how he feels tomorrow before making a decision”Mahela Jayawardene, MI head coach on Rohit Sharma

Across matches, the pattern is less about experimentation and more about indecision, roles changing not by design, but by drift. The churn tells its own story. MI has already used 22 players in eight matches, cycling through all eight overseas options after Will Jacks’s inclusion against Sunrisers Hyderabad. There have been 21 changes to its playing XI across games, a constant search for a winning combination.

It extends to a broader bowling identity. It has conceded at 10.83 an over, the worst in the league, and its 37 wickets are among the lowest returns. Even Jasprit Bumrah, typically MI’s metronome, has just two wickets in eight games. The response has been telling. Trent Boult began as the new-ball spearhead, but a lack of PowerPlay wickets has forced a rethink. Bumrah has increasingly been used upfront.

CSK’s method: control, but at a cost?

If Mumbai’s issue is uncertainty, Chennai’s might be over-calibration. It has used 19 players, rotated six overseas options, and made 10 changes to the XI.

Its use of the Impact Player has been instructive, and occasionally questionable. Against GT, after losing two early wickets, they brought in Sarfaraz Khan as batting reinforcement, effectively sacrificing the option of a specialist bowler like Mukesh Choudhary later. On a mixed-soil surface with variable bounce, CSK finished with 158 for 7.

This raises a broader question: is CSK reacting too early, rather than trusting its base combination?

“ In many ways, this is quite a new team with several new players. We wanted to expose some young talent to game situations. After losing the first three matches, we had to make adjustments. Some changes were self-caused, others were due to injuries, which are beyond our control. Ideally, we’d like to settle on an XI or XII we’re comfortable with and let those players grow into their roles. Hopefully, once we build some momentum and string together wins, we’ll have the confidence to stick with a more consistent lineup”Michael Hussey, CSK batting coach on frequent changes to the XI

At Chepauk, CSK’s template has otherwise been consistent. Bat first, build, and stretch. Before the GT game, it had posted 209, 212 and 192 in three home matches, all batting first.

There is, however, a flicker of reassurance. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s return to form against Gujarat Titans, his first fifty in 11 IPL innings, offers CSK a sliver of good news.

Match-up to watch

Mumbai Indians has brought in Keshav Maharaj after Mitchell Santner’s shoulder injury ruled him out of IPL 2026. On paper, it’s a logical swap. Maharaj offers control through the middle overs and, against a Chennai Super Kings top order heavy on right-handers, gives MI a left-arm orthodox option to dictate angles.

But the matchup isn’t as straightforward as it seems. If Shivam Dube, the only left-hander in CSK’s top eight, is promoted up the order, MI faces a dilemma: hold Maharaj back or risk exposing him when the game is accelerating. Add Dewald Brevis into that middle order, and CSK still has enough intent to disrupt spin late, forcing MI to rethink how and when it deploys Maharaj.

Published on May 01, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Struggling #Mumbai #Indians #visits #fellow #reputationburdened #Chennai #Super #Kings #den">

CSK vs MI, IPL 2026: Struggling Mumbai Indians visits fellow reputation-burdened Chennai Super Kings’ den There was a time when this fixture felt less like a league game and more like an annual check on dominance. Two teams turning up to see if the other still remembered how to win.Now, as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings arrive at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, the mood is different. The names remain heavy, but the form is light. Five titles each, yes. But reputations do not bat at No. 3 or bowl in the PowerPlay. CSK sits sixth. MI, ninth.Memory vs momentumTheir last meeting this season still lingers. At the Wankhede, CSK beat MI by 103 runs, the latter’s heaviest defeat in the IPL. Akeal Hosein, used shrewdly with two overs in the PowerPlay, went around the wicket to left-handers, disrupting angles and rhythm. In tandem with Noor Ahmad, he reduced MI to a kind of batting paralysis.And yet, MI still leads the IPL head-to-head 21–19. But that number is ageing. It has won only two of the last nine meetings, and just one since the start of 2023.Mumbai’s confusion: roles without clarityMumbai Indians’ decision-making has lacked conviction. Take the handling of 21-year-old Krish Bhagat. Against Gujarat Titans (GT), in a match MI won, his role was clearly defined early: overs four and six, just 10 runs conceded against a strong top order. But that clarity did not carry forward. Against Chennai Super Kings, Bhagat was held back from the PowerPlay entirely and then used at the death, in overs 16 and 20, where he conceded 31. The inconsistency runs deeper. Bhagat didn’t feature at all in the following game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Impact Player Shardul Thakur was substituted in at the seven-over mark of the second innings but didn’t bowl a single delivery.
“He’s progressing well and working hard to return. We’re monitoring him daily with the medical team. We’ll see how he trains today and assess how he feels tomorrow before making a decision”Mahela Jayawardene, MI head coach on Rohit SharmaAcross matches, the pattern is less about experimentation and more about indecision, roles changing not by design, but by drift. The churn tells its own story. MI has already used 22 players in eight matches, cycling through all eight overseas options after Will Jacks’s inclusion against Sunrisers Hyderabad. There have been 21 changes to its playing XI across games, a constant search for a winning combination.It extends to a broader bowling identity. It has conceded at 10.83 an over, the worst in the league, and its 37 wickets are among the lowest returns. Even Jasprit Bumrah, typically MI’s metronome, has just two wickets in eight games. The response has been telling. Trent Boult began as the new-ball spearhead, but a lack of PowerPlay wickets has forced a rethink. Bumrah has increasingly been used upfront.CSK’s method: control, but at a cost?If Mumbai’s issue is uncertainty, Chennai’s might be over-calibration. It has used 19 players, rotated six overseas options, and made 10 changes to the XI.Its use of the Impact Player has been instructive, and occasionally questionable. Against GT, after losing two early wickets, they brought in Sarfaraz Khan as batting reinforcement, effectively sacrificing the option of a specialist bowler like Mukesh Choudhary later. On a mixed-soil surface with variable bounce, CSK finished with 158 for 7.This raises a broader question: is CSK reacting too early, rather than trusting its base combination?
“ In many ways, this is quite a new team with several new players. We wanted to expose some young talent to game situations. After losing the first three matches, we had to make adjustments. Some changes were self-caused, others were due to injuries, which are beyond our control. Ideally, we’d like to settle on an XI or XII we’re comfortable with and let those players grow into their roles. Hopefully, once we build some momentum and string together wins, we’ll have the confidence to stick with a more consistent lineup”Michael Hussey, CSK batting coach on frequent changes to the XIAt Chepauk, CSK’s template has otherwise been consistent. Bat first, build, and stretch. Before the GT game, it had posted 209, 212 and 192 in three home matches, all batting first.There is, however, a flicker of reassurance. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s return to form against Gujarat Titans, his first fifty in 11 IPL innings, offers CSK a sliver of good news.Match-up to watchMumbai Indians has brought in Keshav Maharaj after Mitchell Santner’s shoulder injury ruled him out of IPL 2026. On paper, it’s a logical swap. Maharaj offers control through the middle overs and, against a Chennai Super Kings top order heavy on right-handers, gives MI a left-arm orthodox option to dictate angles.But the matchup isn’t as straightforward as it seems. If Shivam Dube, the only left-hander in CSK’s top eight, is promoted up the order, MI faces a dilemma: hold Maharaj back or risk exposing him when the game is accelerating. Add Dewald Brevis into that middle order, and CSK still has enough intent to disrupt spin late, forcing MI to rethink how and when it deploys Maharaj.Published on May 01, 2026 #CSK #IPL #Struggling #Mumbai #Indians #visits #fellow #reputationburdened #Chennai #Super #Kings #den

mwasimuddin125 0

There was a time when this fixture felt less like a league game and more like an annual check on dominance. Two teams turning up to see if the other still remembered how to win.
Now, as Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings arrive at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, the mood is different. The names remain heavy, but the form is light. Five titles each, yes. But reputations do not bat at No. 3 or bowl in the PowerPlay. CSK sits sixth. MI, ninth.
Memory vs momentum
Their last meeting this season still lingers. At the Wankhede, CSK beat MI by 103 runs, the latter’s heaviest defeat in the IPL. Akeal Hosein, used shrewdly with two overs in the PowerPlay, went around the wicket to left-handers, disrupting angles and rhythm. In tandem with Noor Ahmad, he reduced MI to a kind of batting paralysis.
And yet, MI still leads the IPL head-to-head 21–19. But that number is ageing. It has won only two of the last nine meetings, and just one since the start of 2023.
Mumbai’s confusion: roles without clarity
Mumbai Indians’ decision-making has lacked conviction. Take the handling of 21-year-old Krish Bhagat. Against Gujarat Titans (GT), in a match MI won, his role was clearly defined early: overs four and six, just 10 runs conceded against a strong top order. But that clarity did not carry forward. Against Chennai Super Kings, Bhagat was held back from the PowerPlay entirely and then used at the death, in overs 16 and 20, where he conceded 31. The inconsistency runs deeper. Bhagat didn’t feature at all in the following game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Impact Player Shardul Thakur was substituted in at the seven-over mark of the second innings but didn’t bowl a single delivery.
“He’s progressing well and working hard to return. We’re monitoring him daily with the medical team. We’ll see how he trains today and assess how he feels tomorrow before making a decision”Mahela Jayawardene, MI head coach on Rohit Sharma
Across matches, the pattern is less about experimentation and more about indecision, roles changing not by design, but by drift. The churn tells its own story. MI has already used 22 players in eight matches, cycling through all eight overseas options after Will Jacks’s inclusion against Sunrisers Hyderabad. There have been 21 changes to its playing XI across games, a constant search for a winning combination.
It extends to a broader bowling identity. It has conceded at 10.83 an over, the worst in the league, and its 37 wickets are among the lowest returns. Even Jasprit Bumrah, typically MI’s metronome, has just two wickets in eight games. The response has been telling. Trent Boult began as the new-ball spearhead, but a lack of PowerPlay wickets has forced a rethink. Bumrah has increasingly been used upfront.
CSK’s method: control, but at a cost?
If Mumbai’s issue is uncertainty, Chennai’s might be over-calibration. It has used 19 players, rotated six overseas options, and made 10 changes to the XI.
Its use of the Impact Player has been instructive, and occasionally questionable. Against GT, after losing two early wickets, they brought in Sarfaraz Khan as batting reinforcement, effectively sacrificing the option of a specialist bowler like Mukesh Choudhary later. On a mixed-soil surface with variable bounce, CSK finished with 158 for 7.
This raises a broader question: is CSK reacting too early, rather than trusting its base combination?
“ In many ways, this is quite a new team with several new players. We wanted to expose some young talent to game situations. After losing the first three matches, we had to make adjustments. Some changes were self-caused, others were due to injuries, which are beyond our control. Ideally, we’d like to settle on an XI or XII we’re comfortable with and let those players grow into their roles. Hopefully, once we build some momentum and string together wins, we’ll have the confidence to stick with a more consistent lineup”Michael Hussey, CSK batting coach on frequent changes to the XI
At Chepauk, CSK’s template has otherwise been consistent. Bat first, build, and stretch. Before the GT game, it had posted 209, 212 and 192 in three home matches, all batting first.
There is, however, a flicker of reassurance. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s return to form against Gujarat Titans, his first fifty in 11 IPL innings, offers CSK a sliver of good news.
Match-up to watch
Mumbai Indians has brought in Keshav Maharaj after Mitchell Santner’s shoulder injury ruled him out of IPL 2026. On paper, it’s a logical swap. Maharaj offers control through the middle overs and, against a Chennai Super Kings top order heavy on right-handers, gives MI a left-arm orthodox option to dictate angles.
But the matchup isn’t as straightforward as it seems. If Shivam Dube, the only left-hander in CSK’s top eight, is promoted up the order, MI faces a dilemma: hold Maharaj back or risk exposing him when the game is accelerating. Add Dewald Brevis into that middle order, and CSK still has enough intent to disrupt spin late, forcing MI to rethink how and when it deploys Maharaj.
Published on May 01, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Struggling #Mumbai #Indians #visits #fellow #reputationburdened #Chennai #Super #Kings #den">CSK vs MI, IPL 2026: Struggling Mumbai Indians visits fellow reputation-burdened Chennai Super Kings’ den

There was a time when this fixture felt less like a league game and more like an annual check on dominance. Two teams turning up to see if the other still remembered how to win.

Memory vs momentum

And yet, MI still leads the IPL head-to-head 21–19. But that number is ageing. It has won only two of the last nine meetings, and just one since the start of 2023.

Mumbai’s confusion: roles without clarity

CSK’s method: control, but at a cost?

If Mumbai’s issue is uncertainty, Chennai’s might be over-calibration. It has used 19 players, rotated six overseas options, and made 10 changes to the XI.

This raises a broader question: is CSK reacting too early, rather than trusting its base combination?

At Chepauk, CSK’s template has otherwise been consistent. Bat first, build, and stretch. Before the GT game, it had posted 209, 212 and 192 in three home matches, all batting first.

There is, however, a flicker of reassurance. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s return to form against Gujarat Titans, his first fifty in 11 IPL innings, offers CSK a sliver of good news.

Match-up to watch

Published on May 01, 2026

#CSK #IPL #Struggling #Mumbai #Indians #visits #fellow #reputationburdened #Chennai #Super #Kings #den

Related Posts

Memory vs momentum

Mumbai’s confusion: roles without clarity

CSK’s method: control, but at a cost?

Match-up to watch

Memory vs momentum

Mumbai’s confusion: roles without clarity

CSK’s method: control, but at a cost?

Match-up to watch

Post Comment Cancel reply