Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was the talk of the NFL this past season, but not for any good reasons. Brown childishly ripped off his jersey and exited a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the New York Jets, seemingly because he was upset with his involvement in the offense, though the version of the story changes depending on who you ask.
Regardless, Brown's release after the embarrassing incident all but signaled the end of his NFL career. The talented wideout later said that he wanted to retire as a member of the Steelers, the organization that drafted him. Naturally, such a statement started speculation about a possible return to Pittsburgh. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about Brown's possible return to Pittsburgh.
His response was blunt, per Pro Football Talk.
“Y’all know that ain’t happening,” Tomlin said of Brown’s possible return while on The Pivot Podcast, via SI.com. “In terms of putting a helmet on and running out of the tunnel and playing ball and stuff like that, man. You know he’s moved on, and we’ve moved on. We can sit around and chop that up like it’s a realistic conversation, but we know that’s not realistic.”
Tomlin said that “that ain't happening.” The Steelers head coach said that Brown has “moved on” from football and Pittsburgh has moved on from him.
However, Tomlin made sure to express his respect for Brown and his appreciation for the former Steelers wideout's “work ethic” and “fearlessness.”
Brown, who was drafted back in 2010 by the Steelers, spent nine seasons in Pittsburgh, exceeding 1000 yards in seven of them.
While he emerged as the league's best wideout, Brown became troublesome, as he drew the ire of Tomlin for various incidents, chief among them his Facebook Live broadcast of the team's locker room celebration after a 2017 playoff win.
For his part, Brown has said he isn't playing in 2022. If he ever does suit up again, it definitely won't be for the Steelers.
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