Mike Tomlin gave an honest assessment about how he feels about his new NBC role.Tomlin stepped away from his role as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in January, ending an 19-season tenure that saw the team reach the playoffs 13 times.Tomlin left the Steelers in January after 19-seasonsTomlin left it up in the air as to what his next move would be, either returning to the sidelines with a different team, or joining a broadcasting booth.But he chose the latter, and last Tuesday it was announced that Tomlin would be joining NBC’s Football Night in America show as a top studio analyst.The former Steelers man will work alongside Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett and Devin McCourtney in pre-game coverage ahead of week’s Sunday Night Football matchup.It’s a move he is excited for, but can’t help feeling ever-so slightly nervous about.“I just thought it’d be a great way to stay connected to the game and the awesome people in it,” Tomlin told Taylor during an appearance on NBC’s NBA playoffs coverage on Sunday.“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 gotta admit, though, it’s going to be some anxiety about stepping into a new space, but good anxiety. Y’know? “It’s good to be uncomfortable, to grow, to associate it with that. But man, I’m fired up about it.”When Tomlin stepped down as Steelers head coach, he did not speak with the media. Instead, team owner Art Rooney II took to the mic and expressed his gratitude for Tomlin’s services.Tomlin’s conversation with Taylor on Sunday was the first time he has spoken about leaving Pittsburgh, and he admitted that he felt it was the right time for a changing of the guard.Tomlin will be joining NBC as a studio analyst for Football Night in AmericaGettyTomlin admitted he is feeling anxiety ahead of his new role, but wants to embrace it.X / NBCSports“I just thought it was a good time for me, personally, and by that, I mean just where I am in life,” Tomlin added.“And I thought it was a good time for the organization, to be quite honest with you. We didn’t have a lot of success in the playoffs in recent years, and there’s just some veteran players there—guys like Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and [Chris Boswell]—that I thought were worthy of the optimism and the excitement associated with new leadership.”Tomlin gives honest Aaron Rodgers assessment as wait continuesAs the Steelers prepare for life under new head coach Mike McCarthy, one question still hangs over the organization.The question is whether future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers will return to Pittsburgh for the 2026 season.Rodgers’ draft deadline, set by Rooney II, has passed, but it appears that the Steelers haven’t closed the door on a potential reunion just yet.Pittsburgh selected quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, joining Will Howard and Mason Rudolph as the contracted hurlers on the roster.The Steelers continue to wait for Aaron Rodgers’ decisionGettyTomlin believes though that Rodgers will be back to lead the Steelers again next season.“If you had a gun to my head, I think it’s AR,” Tomlin added.“I just think Aaron—being around him for the 12 months that I’m around him, he’s got a love affair with the game of football.“ 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 I think at the end of the day, he’ll play football.”Stay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our dedicated talkSPORT USA Facebook page and subscribe to our talkSPORT USA YouTube channel for all the news, exclusives, interviews and more.