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NBC’s Mike Tomlin Looks Like He’s Going to Be a Television Star

The former Steelers coach brought an impressive presence to the network’s studio show at the Hall of Fame Game.
Jimmy Traina|
Mike Tomlin is going straight from the sideline to NBC’s studio show.
Mike Tomlin is going straight from the sideline to NBC’s studio show. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

1. Mike Tomlin seemed like a natural during his debut broadcast with NBC on Thursday.

It was clear from the opening that Football Night in America is going to be the Mike Tomlin Show this year, which makes sense. What struck me the most about Tomlin’s first segment was just how fresh he comes off as a television personality. NFL studios shows are a lot of the same old, same old. Tomlin did not come across that way at all.

The former Steelers coach came off like someone who has been in broadcasting for many years. In what was hardly a surprise, he was excellent talking about Pittsburgh’s upcoming season.

Tomlin was also super smooth during an interview with Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, although I really need someone to explain to me why both guys had to walk while doing the interview. Is it more exciting to watch two dudes walk and talk instead of just standing still and talking? I don’t get it.

It’s dumb to judge things after one telecast, but it does appear that Tomlin will bring a much-needed jolt of energy to NBC’s NFL studio this season. We often talk about announcers in the booth who bring a “big-game feel.” Tomlin has that same vibe for the studio show.

2. How? How does this even happen? How can an AD get up on stage at a press conference and knock the school that JUST WON THE NATIONAL TITLE???

3. We told you earlier this week that Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said on a podcast that he doesn’t think Babe Ruth existed.

Well, his comments did not sit well with Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who eviscerated PCA on First Take.

4. If you didn’t see the highly unusual home run that Ronald Acuna Jr. hit Thursday night, check it out now. Great call by the play-by-play guy on this one.

5. If I’m being 100% honest, when I saw this post, the first thing I said to myself was, “That’s a good thing.”

Are we really surprised sports fans didn’t want commentaries from Mike Lupica and Mitch Albom?

6. This week’s SI Media With Jimmy Traina features a conversation with The Ringer’s Bryan Curtis.

Curtis goes in depth on CBS’s decision to put Tony Romo on leave following his arrest for OWI, moving J.J. Watt into the network’s No. 1 booth with Jim Nantz and what the future holds for Romo. In addition, we talk about where Greg Olsen fits into all this, Ian Eagle’s standing at CBS and what others in the business think of Romo.

Other topics discussed with Curtis include Aaron Rodgers’s controversial interview with Pat McAfee, the bizarre situation of ESPN laying off Karl Ravech but still having him call games, the “Embrace Debate” mantra and much more.

Following Curtis, Sal Licata from SNY TV and The Sal Licata Show joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we discuss the Dodgers acquiring pitcher Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, Carrie Underwood’s Sunday Night Football theme song, The Odyssey, the death of Sopranos actor Vincent Pastore and more

You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: It’s this time of year for fantasy football commissioners.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on X and Instagram.

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Jimmy Traina
JIMMY TRAINA

Jimmy Traina is a staff writer and podcast host for Sports Illustrated. A 20-year veteran in the industry, he’s been covering the sports media landscape for seven years and writes a daily column, Traina Thoughts. Traina has hosted the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast since 2018, a show known for interviews with some of the most important and powerful people in sports media. He also was the creator and writer of SI’s Hot Clicks feature from 2007 to '13.

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