The end of the Mike Tomlin era in Pittsburgh has not only shaken the foundations of the franchise, but it has also unleashed a controversy over the “sanctity” of the locker room. JJ Watt, future Hall of Famer and brother of Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt, delivered a scathing criticism against those who leaked intimate details of the team’s final meeting, describing the scene as a breach of trust that “should have stayed in the meeting room.”
The controversy erupted after a report from The Athletic revealed, in great detail, the desolate atmosphere that unfolded last Tuesday, January 13, when Tomlin announced his resignation after 19 seasons. According to the internal sources cited, the mood was described “like a funeral,” with both veteran and rookie players emotionally breaking down.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry”: The heartbreaking moment of Aaron Rodgers
The focus of JJ Watt’s outrage centered on the exposure of Aaron Rodgers’ vulnerability. The 42-year-old quarterback, who arrived in Pittsburgh last June motivated almost exclusively by Tomlin’s presence, was portrayed in the report in a state of complete devastation.
“Inside the team meeting room on Tuesday, Rodgers, through sobs, gathered a two-word message to deliver to his coach: ‘I’m sorry,’ several players heard him say. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry,'” the report details.
Watt was quick to react on the platform X, even confronting local journalist Mark Madden, clarifying that his criticism was not aimed at the press, but at the lack of internal codes: “It was directed at the people in the room who shared the moment, not at the reporter doing his job.”
The scene described by witnesses paints a dramatic picture of loyalty and loss. As Rodgers apologized repeatedly, T.J. Watt reportedly “kept repeating ‘no’ over and over,” unable to process the news. Beside him, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was so affected that he “nearly began to hyperventilate.”
This emotional outcome underscores the deep connection Rodgers developed with Tomlin in just one season. Days earlier, following the Wild Card elimination against Houston (30-6), the QB had fiercely defended his coach, even abruptly leaving a press conference with a blunt statement: “I’ve already spoken extensively about how I feel about Mike… And I just did in that f* answer. Thank you.”
Now, with Tomlin gone and a locker room fractured by the leaks, the future of Rodgers and the identity of the Steelers enter a stage of absolute uncertainty.
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