Mike Tomlin Bluntly Weighs In on NFL-Only Meetings: "I Think You're Dead"
Mike Tomlin told Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce on "High Notes" that the meeting involving only players reported by the Dallas Cowboys is a very worrying sign.
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The Dallas Cowboys' uneven start continued in Week 5 when they fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, dropping to 2-3 in five games.
Much of the scrutiny has focused on Dallas' defense, which has struggled to find consistency during the team's early season. Against that backdrop, the Cowboys held a players-only meeting.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach and current NBC Sports NFL analyst Mike Tomlin offered his perspective on what a players-only meeting can reveal about the state of a team.
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"I think you're dead," Tomlin told ESPN's Jason Kless and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kless on the latest episode of the brothers' "New Heights" podcast.
Tomlin later explained that his concern was less about whether a player-only meeting occurred than whether it would become a matter of public debate. "If that happened, I'd like to hear about it," Tomlin said. "The fact that you're hearing about it is what makes it BS."
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer looks on before a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on October 26, 2025. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
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Jason Kelce's visible support of the Philadelphia Eagles during the broadcast has drawn attention since he retired from the only team he played for and went into broadcasting. Travis Kelce then asked if Tomlin had faced criticism for speaking fondly of the Steelers during the "Football Night in America" broadcast.
"To be honest with you, I don't care what I do," Tomlin said. "How can you be 19, and really have a personal stake in most of the kids that are out there and not care about them? No root for them? Not for them? I don't pretend I'm not. I can't do this. Of course I have a job to do and I will do it. But everyone knows where my heart is and where my support is and I'm not apologizing for that."
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Matt Aberfels served as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator under head coach Brian Schottenheimer last season. He joined the San Francisco 49ers as assistant head coach/defense in 2026, and Dallas turned to Christian Parker to lead the defense.
The Cowboys have shown some improvement in some areas under Parker, but still rank at the bottom of the NFL in yards allowed per game through five weeks.
Shortly after last Thursday's 24-16 loss to the Bucks, Schottenheimer began making changes to a Dallas defense that has largely struggled. One of these changes included the addition of a familiar face to the coaching staff.
Mike Pettine will join the Cowboys as a senior defensive assistant. Pettine has worked with Parker in the past.
The Cowboys will travel to historic Lambeau Field on Sunday night to take on the Green Bay Packers in Week 6.
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