1 00:00:04,428 --> 00:00:06,668 Speaker 1: Good Morning Football is the production of the NFL in 2 00:00:06,748 --> 00:00:12,108 Speaker 1: partnership with iHeartRadio Number nineteen. For this man, Mike Tomlin, 3 00:00:12,148 --> 00:00:13,828 Speaker 1: Steelers head coach, what's up man. 4 00:00:13,908 --> 00:00:15,908 Speaker 2: Same old thing. Man. Appreciate you guys being here and 5 00:00:15,988 --> 00:00:16,428 Speaker 2: joining us. 6 00:00:16,468 --> 00:00:17,908 Speaker 1: Thrilled to be here. What's it like to hear in 7 00:00:17,988 --> 00:00:19,388 Speaker 1: nineteen training camps? 8 00:00:20,148 --> 00:00:22,908 Speaker 2: You know, I don't know that it resonates with me, 9 00:00:22,948 --> 00:00:25,708 Speaker 2: to be honest with you, I'm just always so concerned 10 00:00:25,708 --> 00:00:28,908 Speaker 2: about the challenges of now. I don't allow myself to 11 00:00:28,948 --> 00:00:30,428 Speaker 2: take a cumulative approach to it. 12 00:00:30,788 --> 00:00:33,548 Speaker 1: No cumulative approach. But you can look around right now 13 00:00:33,948 --> 00:00:37,188 Speaker 1: and there's some new faces here, and there's household faces here. Coach, 14 00:00:37,228 --> 00:00:41,508 Speaker 1: when you see it's Aaron Jalen Decaf, John Newe at 15 00:00:41,508 --> 00:00:43,628 Speaker 1: al Like, how does that make you feel? 16 00:00:44,028 --> 00:00:46,548 Speaker 2: I feel challenged now, to be quite honest with you, 17 00:00:46,668 --> 00:00:50,268 Speaker 2: I'm embracing the challenge of trying to teach an old 18 00:00:50,308 --> 00:00:53,388 Speaker 2: dog a new trick. Guys that have been around this 19 00:00:53,468 --> 00:00:55,748 Speaker 2: league and done it at a high level and heard 20 00:00:55,748 --> 00:00:58,868 Speaker 2: it presented or wrapped in about any package it can 21 00:00:58,908 --> 00:01:02,068 Speaker 2: be wrapped in. It's a challenge man to get and 22 00:01:02,148 --> 00:01:05,428 Speaker 2: maintain their attention to teach them the things that we 23 00:01:05,588 --> 00:01:08,108 Speaker 2: value here, how we go about our business in the 24 00:01:08,188 --> 00:01:11,788 Speaker 2: why to try to train them win in Rome. To 25 00:01:11,788 --> 00:01:14,588 Speaker 2: be Roman is a coach's challenge, and it's wonder that 26 00:01:14,628 --> 00:01:15,548 Speaker 2: I'm excited about. 27 00:01:15,828 --> 00:01:18,468 Speaker 1: You said an old dog new Tricks. You literally have 28 00:01:18,508 --> 00:01:20,068 Speaker 1: the oldest dog in the league. You have a forty 29 00:01:20,108 --> 00:01:22,988 Speaker 1: one year old quarterback. He's been through different coaches, He's 30 00:01:23,028 --> 00:01:25,228 Speaker 1: at ups and downs, and now he lands here with 31 00:01:25,268 --> 00:01:29,188 Speaker 1: the Steelers. What is the challenge of coaching Aaron Rodgers? 32 00:01:30,068 --> 00:01:33,388 Speaker 2: You know, because he's seen it and done it all. Yeah, 33 00:01:33,508 --> 00:01:37,468 Speaker 2: you know, everything's a rerun, and you know, it's my 34 00:01:37,588 --> 00:01:40,908 Speaker 2: job to make sure that you know that he's engaged, 35 00:01:40,948 --> 00:01:44,508 Speaker 2: that he's having fun. The things that attracted him to 36 00:01:44,508 --> 00:01:47,588 Speaker 2: the game twenty years ago still resonate with him and 37 00:01:47,628 --> 00:01:50,028 Speaker 2: he feels it in this environment today. 38 00:01:50,068 --> 00:01:52,428 Speaker 1: You know, he has said many times when people ask him, 39 00:01:52,428 --> 00:01:54,708 Speaker 1: you know why the Steelers, he always points to you 40 00:01:54,948 --> 00:01:58,308 Speaker 1: and he says, my conversations with Mike, give me something 41 00:01:58,308 --> 00:02:00,268 Speaker 1: of those conversations. What do you have to say to 42 00:02:00,308 --> 00:02:02,508 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers? What do you say to him? Say, I'm 43 00:02:02,508 --> 00:02:04,268 Speaker 1: at forty one years old, I'm going to come place 44 00:02:04,548 --> 00:02:05,508 Speaker 1: with a new team. 45 00:02:05,788 --> 00:02:09,148 Speaker 2: You know, I think more than anything, it's got to 46 00:02:09,188 --> 00:02:13,588 Speaker 2: be more than capabilities. You know, you're doing what he's 47 00:02:13,588 --> 00:02:16,348 Speaker 2: doing at forty one. It's not because you're capable. It's 48 00:02:16,428 --> 00:02:20,948 Speaker 2: other things. It's a burning desire, it's man versus himself, 49 00:02:22,348 --> 00:02:26,468 Speaker 2: it's answering critics, it's whatever, and so like, I just 50 00:02:26,508 --> 00:02:28,988 Speaker 2: want to get to know him legitimately, and for me, 51 00:02:29,028 --> 00:02:32,028 Speaker 2: a component of that is, you know, understanding the why. 52 00:02:32,108 --> 00:02:34,668 Speaker 2: I think I can better coach him and get to 53 00:02:34,708 --> 00:02:37,628 Speaker 2: know him in a real way and we can both 54 00:02:37,668 --> 00:02:39,908 Speaker 2: be what this team needs us to be if we 55 00:02:39,988 --> 00:02:41,028 Speaker 2: pursue it in that manner. 56 00:02:41,548 --> 00:02:44,588 Speaker 1: You're always engrossed in the football world. I work in media. 57 00:02:44,868 --> 00:02:47,548 Speaker 1: You cannot hear the name Mike Tomlin and media without 58 00:02:47,588 --> 00:02:50,228 Speaker 1: hearing that he's never had a losing season. It is 59 00:02:50,268 --> 00:02:52,188 Speaker 1: a fact that follows you around for all kinds of 60 00:02:52,188 --> 00:02:54,508 Speaker 1: different reasons. What does that fact mean to you? 61 00:02:55,828 --> 00:02:58,028 Speaker 2: It doesn't mean a lot as it's a figure day why, 62 00:02:58,228 --> 00:03:02,668 Speaker 2: you know, because again, for me, there's so much to 63 00:03:02,708 --> 00:03:06,268 Speaker 2: be concerned about relative to naw, let's be honest, Okay, 64 00:03:06,348 --> 00:03:09,268 Speaker 2: like most of these guys or that I coach, it 65 00:03:09,308 --> 00:03:12,228 Speaker 2: doesn't resonate with you know. Nineteen eighteen years ago. A 66 00:03:12,268 --> 00:03:14,628 Speaker 2: lot of these guys were in car seats and so 67 00:03:14,748 --> 00:03:17,828 Speaker 2: they respect it. But it's not something that's a value 68 00:03:17,868 --> 00:03:20,468 Speaker 2: for them. And so why would I, you know, put 69 00:03:20,588 --> 00:03:24,028 Speaker 2: my business on this collective. I'm just focused on this 70 00:03:24,108 --> 00:03:26,068 Speaker 2: collective and what we can do together. I think I 71 00:03:26,108 --> 00:03:28,868 Speaker 2: owe them that, And really, at the end of the day, 72 00:03:29,148 --> 00:03:32,468 Speaker 2: I doubt that anybody cares. It's just a nice, cool 73 00:03:32,468 --> 00:03:34,388 Speaker 2: thing for you guys to talk about or use as 74 00:03:34,388 --> 00:03:38,068 Speaker 2: an intro when you're talking about me or hope for 75 00:03:38,148 --> 00:03:40,828 Speaker 2: my demise. You know what I mean either way is 76 00:03:40,908 --> 00:03:45,068 Speaker 2: sport entertainment. It's not big on my radar. 77 00:03:45,588 --> 00:03:48,948 Speaker 1: Not surprised to hear before you go. You have a 78 00:03:49,068 --> 00:03:51,588 Speaker 1: very special, unique way of talking. You become renowned for 79 00:03:52,188 --> 00:03:56,108 Speaker 1: and people talk about tomlinisms phrases that you use. I 80 00:03:56,148 --> 00:03:58,588 Speaker 1: have some of them here now, Coach. Sometimes you'll get 81 00:03:58,668 --> 00:04:01,388 Speaker 1: rock stars up on stage and they'll explain their songs 82 00:04:01,468 --> 00:04:03,628 Speaker 1: or their lyrics, what comes with them. I just want 83 00:04:03,628 --> 00:04:05,628 Speaker 1: you to give me a little backstory on some of these. 84 00:04:05,628 --> 00:04:09,388 Speaker 1: Anything you're comfortable with, all right? Tomlinism number one? If 85 00:04:09,468 --> 00:04:13,068 Speaker 1: you got red paint, you paint the barn red? What 86 00:04:13,068 --> 00:04:13,588 Speaker 1: does that mean? 87 00:04:14,268 --> 00:04:17,308 Speaker 2: It means weird. As coaches have to be flexible. I'm 88 00:04:17,308 --> 00:04:18,908 Speaker 2: not gonna try to put a square peg in a 89 00:04:18,988 --> 00:04:22,108 Speaker 2: round hole. It's my job to see the collection of talent, 90 00:04:22,828 --> 00:04:25,908 Speaker 2: what makes it special, how we divide the labor up 91 00:04:26,428 --> 00:04:29,988 Speaker 2: and do what best highlights the talents and the skill 92 00:04:30,068 --> 00:04:33,228 Speaker 2: sets of the individual and the collective. And so as 93 00:04:33,268 --> 00:04:36,908 Speaker 2: opposed to that long winded explanation, you're. 94 00:04:36,748 --> 00:04:41,588 Speaker 1: Explaining Tomalinisms with Tomalinism my number two. This is my 95 00:04:41,588 --> 00:04:45,908 Speaker 1: favorite one, Mike Tomlin. There is a fine line between 96 00:04:46,028 --> 00:04:48,188 Speaker 1: drinking wine and stomping grapes. 97 00:04:49,468 --> 00:04:52,508 Speaker 2: What are we doing? Like? You need to balance athletic 98 00:04:52,588 --> 00:04:57,868 Speaker 2: arrogance and humility in this in this league, this game, 99 00:04:58,108 --> 00:05:02,468 Speaker 2: at this level is full of legitimately humble. Everybody takes 100 00:05:02,508 --> 00:05:04,308 Speaker 2: an al every now and then in a lot of way, 101 00:05:05,108 --> 00:05:10,348 Speaker 2: and so I just remind them of that using that analogy. 102 00:05:10,508 --> 00:05:13,188 Speaker 1: Mike Tomlin, I can't give you all the ingredients to 103 00:05:13,268 --> 00:05:18,108 Speaker 1: the hot dog. You might not like it. You like 104 00:05:18,188 --> 00:05:19,868 Speaker 1: them too, You're charmed of these like we. 105 00:05:19,828 --> 00:05:21,708 Speaker 2: Are now because I'm just trying to figure out how 106 00:05:21,708 --> 00:05:25,108 Speaker 2: to explain it. You know, for us, you know, there's 107 00:05:25,148 --> 00:05:28,228 Speaker 2: certain things that are team oriented that are not for 108 00:05:28,308 --> 00:05:32,828 Speaker 2: everyone to consume, even those that love football or love us. 109 00:05:33,508 --> 00:05:35,508 Speaker 2: The things that happen behind the scenes that are our 110 00:05:35,628 --> 00:05:38,908 Speaker 2: business is part of us doing the things that we 111 00:05:38,988 --> 00:05:41,228 Speaker 2: need to do to produce the outcomes that we desire. 112 00:05:41,708 --> 00:05:46,468 Speaker 2: And sometimes the process is attractive as the end product. 113 00:05:46,508 --> 00:05:49,268 Speaker 2: And that's why I'm somewhat resistant to hard knocks and 114 00:05:49,308 --> 00:05:52,148 Speaker 2: things of that nature, because I'm not really interested in 115 00:05:52,188 --> 00:05:54,828 Speaker 2: peeling the curtains back all the time. I think these 116 00:05:54,868 --> 00:05:59,068 Speaker 2: guys are deserving of some privacy that it's tough to 117 00:05:59,108 --> 00:06:00,548 Speaker 2: come by in today's sport world. 118 00:06:01,228 --> 00:06:03,548 Speaker 1: It's a beautiful answer to a fun quote, and I'll 119 00:06:03,548 --> 00:06:05,468 Speaker 1: bring it home. This this is your let it be. 120 00:06:05,868 --> 00:06:08,908 Speaker 1: This is the one you'll be known by. The standard 121 00:06:09,468 --> 00:06:12,308 Speaker 1: is the standard? What does it mean, coach? 122 00:06:13,108 --> 00:06:17,828 Speaker 2: It means, you know, current circumstances don't matter, nobody cares. 123 00:06:18,748 --> 00:06:20,988 Speaker 2: There's a standard of expectation and we have to live 124 00:06:21,068 --> 00:06:23,988 Speaker 2: to it. I never want to seeking comfort. I never 125 00:06:24,028 --> 00:06:28,188 Speaker 2: want us, you know, evaluating our outcomes on a curve 126 00:06:28,228 --> 00:06:31,068 Speaker 2: if you will, you know, talking about who's missing and 127 00:06:31,108 --> 00:06:34,228 Speaker 2: things of that nature or natural challenges that the game 128 00:06:34,308 --> 00:06:37,428 Speaker 2: or life presents. Because the bottom line is everyone we 129 00:06:37,468 --> 00:06:41,588 Speaker 2: compete against has similar challenges or maybe different challenges. Challenges 130 00:06:41,628 --> 00:06:43,868 Speaker 2: are part of the journey and it's our job to 131 00:06:43,908 --> 00:06:46,508 Speaker 2: overcome them, and so I just try to train them 132 00:06:46,508 --> 00:06:50,188 Speaker 2: from a mental standpoint that we need to be unwavering 133 00:06:50,228 --> 00:06:53,188 Speaker 2: in our commitments regarding what we say we want to do. 134 00:06:54,268 --> 00:06:59,948 Speaker 1: Challenges, standards, Wine, hot Dogs nineteen years. This is Mike 135 00:06:59,988 --> 00:07:02,548 Speaker 1: tom on the legend. He is not about accumulative approach. 136 00:07:03,028 --> 00:07:06,148 Speaker 1: He's about football, and football here and with the Steelers 137 00:07:06,188 --> 00:07:08,308 Speaker 1: is always about winning. Coach, It's awesome to see you. 138 00:07:08,388 --> 00:07:11,068 Speaker 2: No, thank you, good luck this year. Appreciate you.