Mike Tomlin stated in no uncertain terms that he has zero interest in leaving the NFL for any college job.
After some speculated that he could be a candidate for the vacancies at USC and LSU, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach offered a firm rebuke Tuesday when asked about his potential interest in moving to the collegiate level.
"Hey guys, I don't have time to for that speculation," Tomlin said. "That's a joke to me. I have one of the best jobs in all of professional sport. Why would I have any interest in coaching college football? That will be the last time I address it - not only today, but moving forward."
Tomlin has served as the Steelers' head coach since 2007, which gives him the third-longest tenure of any active NFL coach. He has compiled a 148-81-1 record, leading Pittsburgh to a Super Bowl title in the 2008 season and nine playoff berths.
Tomlin has not worked at the college level since 2000, when he was a defensive backs coach at Cincinnati.
POWER RANKINGS:Where do Steelers stand?
On Monday, former USC quarterback Carson Palmer dropped Tomlin's name in an interview with Dan Patrick as a "wild card" in the Trojans' coaching search. Palmer, who said he has given his input to the school, said he was "sure" that Tomlin had been discussed as a candidate but did not concretely say he was privy to any such talks.
Former Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley, who worked with Tomlin and the Steelers as a pro personnel coordinator, said on Pittsburgh radio last week that the team should be concerned about both USC and LSU.
Tomlin closed the door on those ideas.
"Never say never, but never," Tomlin said. "Anybody else got any questions about any college jobs? There's not a booster with a big enough blank check."
Tomlin then questioned why he was being pressed on speculation about college jobs before leaving the news conference.
"Anybody asking (New Orleans Saints coach) Sean Payton about that?" Tomlin said. "Anybody asking (Kansas City Chiefs coach) Andy Reid about stuff like that?"
The Steelers face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.
