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Why Mike Tomlin Will Be Perfect Television Fit for NBC

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Mike and mic loomed as a natural fit after the talkative Mike Tomlin resigned as Pittsburgh Steelers coach in January.

As with his Steelers teams of 19 seasons, Tomlin doesn’t figure to have a losing record as a TV studio analyst, either.

A report Tuesday from The Athletic cemented Tomlin’s long-anticipated transition. He’ll join the NBC “Sunday Night Football” pregame show “Football Night in America” beginning this season.

Surely, video editors and social media managers already have their popcorn ready.

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That’s “popcorn” as in the salty snack, not the alternative definition Tomlin once served up during a press conference.

“You know, there’s been popcorn,” Tomlin said. “It hasn’t been any one man specifically; it’s been popcorn. But you can’t have popcorn.”

Asked to expound, Tomlin explained “popcorn” as: “A splattering of incidences. One here. One there. One there.”

That’s some tasty imagery, indeed.

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Sustained coaching success boosted Tomlin’s profile as a would-be analyst. He guided Pittsburgh to a 193-114-2 regular-season record, while his 8-12 postseason mark included a 1-1 record in the Super Bowl.

His unique turns of phrase, however, set him apart. In a broadcast climate rife with programs and platforms for former players and coaches to fill, Tomlin, 54, should climb seamlessly into the mix at “FNIA,” a leading national brand.

“I think Mike is great at painting pictures, and those sayings, those Tomlinisms, they can immediately have a context,” Tony Dungy, Pro Football Hall of Fame coach and Tomlin’s mentor, told NFL Films in 2021.

Per The Athletic, Fox also coveted Tomlin as a replacement for Jimmy Johnson, who’s retiring from its “Fox NFL Sunday” show.

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At NBC, Tomlin will fill a void left by Dungy, who NBC did not retain for an 18th season. While various reports have stated that the “FNIA” lineup could undergo further shuffling, host Maria Taylor and analysts Jason Garrett and Devin McCourty are expected back.

In late 2015, “FNIA” explored Tomlin’s well-documented physical resemblance to actor Omar Epps, showing photos of either man and asking Steelers fans and Tomlin’s wife, Kiya, whether it was Tomlin.

Tomlin never should be confused with Epps’ Darnell Jefferson, the cocky freshman running back from 1993’s “The Program.” That character aimed to impress college coed Halle Berry with a forced, hyperintelligent vocabulary that indubitably would make Tomlin roll his eyes.

“I don’t think a lot about the things that I say, to be honest with you,” Tomlin once said when asked about the origins of his oft-celebrated, “The standard is the standard.”

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He continued: “I’m just trying to use words to vividly capture the imagination of our guys so that they can remember the messages so they can somehow be ingrained in their mind so they can somehow make it come alive inside stadiums on the grass. By whatever means we get that done, I’m for it.”

Substitute “inside stadiums on the grass” with “on sofas across the nation,” and there’s Tomlin’s value to any network suitor.

NBC doesn’t want viewers to leave their couches, of course. But with Tomlin aboard, they may well leap from them – or at least sit up – while hanging on every word.

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New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor exits game with left calf tightness

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NEW YORK — No sooner did the struggling New York Mets get a star player back than another one went down with a similar injury.

Francisco Lindor was removed Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins with left calf tightness, just hours after teammate Juan Soto came off the injured list.

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Lindor labored around the bases while scoring from first on Francisco Alvarez’s one-out double up the right-center alley in the fourth inning. The switch-hitting shortstop grimaced as he rounded third and paused for a bit from the seat of his pants after beating the relay throw with a feetfirst slide.

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Lindor headed down the dugout tunnel with an athletic trainer and was replaced in the lineup by Brett Baty, who entered at third base in the top of the fifth. Bo Bichette slid over from third base to shortstop.

Batting cleanup, Lindor knocked in a run when he legged out an infield single with two outs in the first. Moments earlier, he made an outstanding leaping grab at shortstop for the second out of the game.

With the Mets on a 12-game losing streak, Soto was reinstated from the 10-day IL earlier in the day. The slugging outfielder had been sidelined since straining his right calf while running from first to third on April 3 in San Francisco.

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7 best games to buy during Steam Medieval Fest 2026

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The Steam Medieval Fest 2026 is here, bringing along neat discounts for many fantasy and historical medieval-themed games. From popular names like Witcher and Middle-earth to multiplayer and co-op offerings, there is something for all kinds of gamers here.

Take a look at the best games available during this latest Steam sale. Here are the details.

Also Read: Top 7 indie games with highest player count on Steam (March 2026)


Best discounts during Steam Medieval Fest 2026

1) Middle-earth: Shadow of War (90% off)

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Monolith Productions' latest Middle-earth project is arguably their best yet (Image via WB Games)Monolith Productions' latest Middle-earth project is arguably their best yet (Image via WB Games)
Monolith Productions’ latest Middle-earth project is arguably their best yet (Image via WB Games)
  • Original price: $49.99
  • Discounted price: $4.99

The successor to 2014’s beloved Shadow of Mordor amps up the action further with a bigger scope and the iconic Nemesis system returning alongside protagonist Talion. Defeat powerful foes across a dynamically changing battlefield in exciting hand-to-hand combat and rise above your opponents’ ashes thanks to a steep discount during Steam Medieval Fest 2026.


2) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition (80% off)

The GOTY 2015 winner holds up even a decade later and is discounted for Steam Medieval Fest 2026 (Image via CD Projekt RED)The GOTY 2015 winner holds up even a decade later and is discounted for Steam Medieval Fest 2026 (Image via CD Projekt RED)
The GOTY 2015 winner holds up even a decade later and is discounted for Steam Medieval Fest 2026 (Image via CD Projekt RED)
  • Original price: $39.99
  • Discounted price: $7.99

As the feared mutant and monster-slayer Geralt, set out on a grand adventure to save your adoptive daughter Ciri from the clutches of the Wild Hunt. Encounter a memorable character, take on mythical beasts, and face moral dilemmas across the Continent in this beloved open-world RPG from CD Projekt RED. With all DLC included, the Complete Edition is the best way to enjoy The Witcher 3.


3) Kingdom Come: Deliverance (80% off)

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Become Henry and experience medieval Bohemia in this open-world RPG (Image via Warhorse Studios)Become Henry and experience medieval Bohemia in this open-world RPG (Image via Warhorse Studios)
Become Henry and experience medieval Bohemia in this open-world RPG (Image via Warhorse Studios)
  • Original price: $29.99
  • Discounted price: $5.99

Developer Warhorse Studios debuted with Kingdom Come: Deliverance, their ambitious sandbox RPG, back in 2018. One of the few modern games built atop CryEngine, it stars Henry, who finds his village massacred by the invading forces of Sigismund. Aiming for revenge, explore a realistic, immersive world in first-person, make difficult decisions, and play how you want.


4) Chivalry 2 (80% off)

Get ready for gruesome skirmishes and funny deaths thanks to the Steam Medieval Fest 2026 offer (Image via Tripwire)Get ready for gruesome skirmishes and funny deaths thanks to the Steam Medieval Fest 2026 offer (Image via Tripwire)
Get ready for gruesome skirmishes and funny deaths thanks to the Steam Medieval Fest 2026 offer (Image via Tripwire)
  • Original price: $39.99
  • Discounted price: $7.99

The immensely popular first-person multiplayer brawler from Tom Banner Studios pits dozens of players against one another in a battle to the death. Mimicking medieval-era warfare on a massive scale, you can don the armor and weapons you want and try to stay alive against a wave of other foes who will aim to stomp you down no matter what in Chivalry 2.


5) Crusader Kings 3 (70% off)

Carve out your own dynasty across a deep, richly simulated world (Image via Paradox Interactive)Carve out your own dynasty across a deep, richly simulated world (Image via Paradox Interactive)
Carve out your own dynasty across a deep, richly simulated world (Image via Paradox Interactive)
  • Original price: $49.99
  • Discounted price: $17.99

At 70% off during Steam Medieval Fest, this is the cheapest developer Paradox’s latest and biggest grand-strategy sim has been yet. Arguably, the most realistic game on this list, Crusader Kings 3, is also the most overwhelming in terms of gameplay, as you command your house, establish relations with surrounding kingdoms, engage in battles, manage the population, and so much more.


6) Lords of the Fallen (2023) (67% off)

This reboot fixes many problems of the poorly received 2014 original (Image via CI Games)This reboot fixes many problems of the poorly received 2014 original (Image via CI Games)
This reboot fixes many problems of the poorly received 2014 original (Image via CI Games)
  • Original price: $29.99
  • Discounted price: $9.89

CI Games’ latest Souls-like ARPG is also on discount, allowing you to check out this dark fantasy adventure. As the Dark Crusader, navigate both the world of the living and the realm of the dead to track down and defeat the Demon God Adyr. The brutal third-person combat and tough bosses will test your skills and builds, with co-op multiplayer included as well.


7) Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition (65% off)

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Hundreds of hours of nostalgic fun are to be had here (Image via Xbox Game Studios)Hundreds of hours of nostalgic fun are to be had here (Image via Xbox Game Studios)
Hundreds of hours of nostalgic fun are to be had here (Image via Xbox Game Studios)
  • Original price: $34.99
  • Discounted price: $12.24

It wouldn’t be a medieval games list without one of the most popular genre entries, namely Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition. The beloved PC RTS classic returns with a visual and controls overhaul, allowing you to build your civilization and command your armies as you see fit. With three DLC expansions, multiplayer, and mod support, the possibilities are endless.

The Steam Medieval Fest 2026 ends on April 27 at 10 AM PT.