During his debut on NBC Sports, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin quickly voiced his support for a former player joining the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tomlin appeared as part of the analyst team for the annual Hall of Fame Game, featuring a matchup between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals. Both teams had a player in this year’s Hall of Fame Class: the Panthers’ Luke Kuechly and the Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald.
When given the opportunity to nominate a player for the Hall of Fame, Tomlin did not hesitate to name his former Super Bowl-winning player, Hines Ward. He praised Ward’s credentials on NBC’s coverage, saying, “My Golden Ticket unquestionably goes to Hines Ward. He’s got Hall of Fame numbers. He’s got 1,000 career catches, 12,000 yards, 85 touchdowns, a Super Bowl MVP. But beyond the statistics, it was his style of play. This guy was a predator, not prey. Every, every defensive player in the National Football League feared Hines Ward.”
Ward played 13 years in the league, starting with the Steelers in 1998 and departing in 2011 after securing two Super Bowl victories in Pittsburgh. He earned the Super Bowl XL MVP title under coach Bill Cowher and later contributed to Tomlin’s Super Bowl triumph in 2009. In addition to these achievements, Ward was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.
Ward is currently ranked 31st in all-time receiving yards. However, active players Keenan Allen of the Los Angeles Chargers and Stefon Diggs of the Washington Commanders are predicted to surpass him if they remain healthy throughout their seasons.
Ward was among this year’s Hall of Fame Class semifinalists. His fellow wide receivers, Anquan Boldin and Sterling Sharpe, are also contenders who might see Hall inductions shortly.
Tomlin himself is anticipated to eventually join the Hall of Fame due to his impressive coaching record with the Steelers.
In addition to his support for Ward, Tomlin’s debut as an NBC analyst came after serving 19 seasons as head coach in Pittsburgh, securing a record of 193–114–2. He set a new NFL record with 19 straight winning seasons as a head coach, culminating in a Super Bowl victory in 2009.
Fans have positively acknowledged Tomlin’s addition to NBC Sports, sharing favorable opinions on social media. He is expected to continue contributing to NBC’s football coverage, primarily on Sunday nights. NBC’s first regular-season game will feature the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9.
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