Mike Tomlin has opened up about life away from the Pittsburgh Steelers and made a personal admission while discussing one of his biggest hobbies.
The former Steelers head coach spoke about his love of Minecraft in a new GQ interview and suggested he may be on the autism spectrum. Tomlin has spent more than a decade building an elaborate virtual city in the game.
The 54-year-old has kept much of his personal life private throughout his coaching career. His time away from Pittsburgh has now given fans a different look at the man behind the familiar sideline presence.
Mike Tomlin makes personal admission while discussing Minecraft
Speaking toGQ’s Jake Nevins, Tomlin explained how his interest in Minecraft developed over the years before making the personal observation.
Tomlin said: “I am probably on the spectrum. My wife would say that.”
Tomlin did not claim to have received an autism diagnosis and the interview did not establish one. His comment was his own speculation while discussing a hobby that has become a major part of his life outside football.
What started as a way for Tomlin to connect with his children eventually became a detailed project of its own. His virtual city includes high-rise buildings, hotels and other structures and he continued working on it after his sons left for college.
Earlier this month, Tomlin released a video tour showing just how much work had gone into the project. It offered fans a rare glimpse at an interest that had remained largely separate from his NFL career.
Tomlin also spoke about how coaching shaped the way he presented himself publicly. “They don’t want to know that you’re a human,” he said.
That distance has changed since he stepped down in January following Pittsburgh’s playoff loss to the Houston Texans. Tomlin finished his Steelers career with a 193-114-2 regular-season record, two Super Bowl appearances and a championship while never recording a losing season.
He has since joined NBC’s “Football Night in America” as an analyst and has spent more time with his family. Whether he returns to coaching remains undecided, but Tomlin’s latest interview has offered fans a side of him they rarely saw in Pittsburgh.
Read more: