Tomlin reveals the quarterback he would most want to coach
Mike Tomlin knows what it takes to evaluate NFL quarterbacks, and his latest choice has sparked plenty of interest. During a recent football discussion, the longtime Steelers coach revealed which current quarterback he would most want to coach, offering a glimpse into what he values at the position.
The answer may surprise some fans, especially given the quarterback’s reputation for making big plays under pressure. Read on to see who earned Tomlin’s nod and why his choice stands out.
Allen is entering his ninth NFL season
Allen entered the 2026 season with eight NFL seasons completed, all with Buffalo. The Bills selected him seventh overall in the 2018 NFL Draft after he played college football at Wyoming.
Buffalo lists Allen as 30 years old, 6-foot-5 and 237 pounds entering 2026. He has started 127 of 128 regular-season games during his professional career, according to NFL statistics.
His 2025 season produced strong numbers
Allen played all 17 regular-season games for Buffalo in 2025, completing 319 of 460 passes for 3,668 yards. He finished that season with 25 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and a 102.2 passer rating.
Allen also contributed 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2025. Those rushing numbers gave him another significant role in Buffalo’s offense beyond his passing production.
His career includes major passing production
Through the 2025 season, Allen had completed 2,615 passes on 4,088 attempts for 30,102 yards. He had also thrown 220 touchdown passes and 94 interceptions across 128 regular-season games.
Allen’s career rushing totals through 2025 were 4,721 yards and 79 touchdowns. NFL statistics list his career passer rating at 94.4, reflecting production accumulated since entering the league in 2018.
Allen won the 2024 NFL MVP award
Allen won the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award for the 2024 season. He received 27 first-place votes and 378 total points, narrowly finishing ahead of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
During his MVP season, Allen recorded 4,269 total yards and 41 total touchdowns. Buffalo finished 13-4, won its fifth consecutive AFC East title and reached the AFC Championship Game.
His 2024 season also set a scoring mark
Allen became the first player in NFL history to record five consecutive seasons with at least 40 total touchdowns. The streak began in 2020 and continued through his 2024 MVP campaign.
Buffalo reported that Allen finished 2024 with 8 turnovers, the fewest of his career at that point. He also passed Jim Kelly for the most total touchdowns in Bills franchise history during that season.
Tomlin highlighted Allen’s dual-threat ability
Tomlin said Allen can create plays with both his arm and his legs. That description matches Allen’s career production, which includes 30,102 passing yards and 4,721 rushing yards through the 2025 regular season.
Allen has recorded 220 passing touchdowns and 79 rushing touchdowns during his career. His rushing production is part of the profile behind Tomlin’s description of Allen as a dual-threat quarterback.
Tomlin has faced Allen as a Steelers coach
Tomlin spent 19 seasons as Pittsburgh’s head coach before stepping down in January 2026. During that period, the Steelers played Allen and the Bills multiple times in regular-season and postseason competition.
Allen’s career record against Pittsburgh entering 2026 was 5-1 in six games. Against the Steelers, he had 1,397 passing yards, 12 touchdown passes, four interceptions and three rushing touchdowns.
Interesting fact: Josh Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to record a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.
Allen signed a long-term Bills extension
Buffalo and Allen agreed to a contract extension in March 2025 that keeps the quarterback under contract through the 2030 season. The agreement followed his 2024 MVP campaign and continued the team’s commitment to its franchise quarterback.
The Bills said Allen had produced 262 total touchdowns and 30,595 total yards during his first seven seasons. The team also noted that he had the most wins by a quarterback during that span.
Allen remains with Buffalo in 2026
Allen remains the Bills’ quarterback entering the 2026 NFL season. Buffalo’s current roster lists him as an active quarterback and identifies him as a ninth-year NFL player.
His 2026 status provides context for Tomlin’s comments because the selection concerns a current NFL quarterback, not a draft prospect. Allen is preparing for another season under Buffalo’s offensive system.
Tomlin is now working in broadcasting
Tomlin stepped down as Steelers head coach in January 2026 after 19 seasons with the organization. Pittsburgh credited him with 13 playoff appearances, eight AFC North titles and a Super Bowl victory.
Tomlin moved into broadcasting for the 2026 season and joined NBC Sports coverage. His new role gives him a platform to discuss NFL players and teams outside Pittsburgh while no longer coaching.
Tomlin has not closed the door on coaching
Although Tomlin is no longer Pittsburgh’s head coach, he has not ruled out coaching again. During the same discussion, he said he did not know whether he would return and expressed his continued love for coaching.
His comments about Allen therefore do not represent a current coaching plan. They identify the quarterback Tomlin said he would most want to coach among current NFL quarterbacks.
The internet is also talking about how Denver Broncos cheerleader’s work outside the NFL raises questions about pay.
Allen finished 2025 with playoff appearances
Allen started two playoff games for Buffalo during the 2025 postseason. He completed 53 of 74 passes for 556 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions across a victory over Jacksonville and a loss to Denver.
He also rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns in those games. Buffalo’s season ended with a 33-30 overtime loss to the Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round.
In other news, Angel Reese and Team USA teammates spark attention with Caitlin Clark’s reaction.
Do you agree with Mike Tomlin’s quarterback choice? Like this slideshow and drop a comment with the NFL quarterback you would pick to coach!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
Read More From This Brand:
