HBO’s excellent “Hard Knocks” series covers new territory in the NFL with its latest in-season installment that will cover all four AFC North teams during the final stretch of their 2024 campaigns.
While insights on the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns will be interesting, the main attraction will be the Pittsburgh Steelers and the mystique of their longtime head coach Mike Tomlin.
Pulling back the curtain on the methods of Tomlin, the NFL’s longest-tenured current head coach, should be fascinating to football fans, and HBO’s sneak peek provided a glimpse of what to expect when “Hard Knocks: In Season” debuts Tuesday.
“Are you thriving or surviving?” Tomlin asks during a team meeting. “When s— gets difficult in practice or in games, do you thrive or survive?”
“You’ve got your head buried in the sand if you don’t think there’s tangible reasons why these things happen. And if you’re lacking in that mental toughness area, if you are a survivor, then your ass better grow and grow quickly.”
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN..
We have an exclusive clip from Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/1nci7CGm33
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 3, 2024
Like most football coaches, Tomlin shares the bare minimum with the media during his weekly press conferences, but during “Hard Knocks,” he can’t hide from the spotlight. The behind-the-scenes footage of how the 52-year-old Tomlin has guided the 9-3 Steelers to the top of the division should be great content for everyone but the Steelers’ steely leader.
After Sunday’s 44-38 win over the Bengals, Tomlin couldn’t wait to have his microphone removed.
“Take this s— off of me,” Tomlin said as soon as he walked off the field.
Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North premiers this week.
Checking in on Mike Tomlin's experience 🤣
(📹: kimberleymartin on IG) #Steelers pic.twitter.com/FP1qYqzoTD
— Steelers Wire (@TheSteelersWire) December 2, 2024
On Tuesday, Tomlin was asked if he will be tuning in to the premiere of “Hard Knocks: In Season.”
“Absolutely not,” he replied.
That’s OK, Coach Tomlin. We’ll be watching.
Reporter: "Mike, are you going to watch Hard Knocks?"
Tomlin: "Absolutely not."
Steelers PR: "Ok, we'll end on that."
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) December 3, 2024
