Mike Tomlin puts Antonio Brown Steelers return rumors to rest

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has no time for speculation over Antonio Brown returning to Pittsburgh, shutting down any talk on a new podcast appearance.

Mike Tomlin has a huge amount of respect for Antonio Brown and what he accomplished with the Steelers.

That doesn’t mean the head coach is open to the receiver returning to the team.

Tomlin appeared on The Pivot Podcast this week and talked extensively about Brown and his impact on the football field. But first, he shot down any notion of him being on the Steelers roster again.

Mike Tomlin puts Antonio Brown Steelers return rumors to rest

“Y’all know that ain’t happening,” Tomlin said. “In terms of putting a helmet on and running out of the tunnel and playing ball and stuff like that, man. You know he’s moved on, we’ve moved on.”

He called the idea “not realistic.”

This all stems from Brown making waves about wanting to retire as a Steeler. He tweeted about it and also expressed that desire on his own episode of The Pivot Podcast.

Tomlin didn’t rule out the prospect of Brown getting a one-day contract to officially retire as a Steeler, so that possibility still seems on the table. He just definitely won’t play for Pittsburgh again.

Does Brown deserve to get the one-day contract and retirement treatment?

Sure, he was a seven-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion with the franchise. He also forced his way out of town by sowing seeds of discontent in the Pittsburgh locker room and has been accused of sexual misconduct on multiple occasions. That’s not even mentioning instances of erratic and violent behavior including an altercation with Raiders GM Mike Mayock and charges of battery and burglary in 2020.

The Steelers will have to decide if they want to buy another ticket to the circus for that one.