Despite not having much indication that the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to draft him, new offensive tackle Broderick Jones is ecstatic to be a member of the historic franchise and for the opportunity to play under head coach Mike Tomlin.
Speaking with reporters following his selection at No. 14 overall after Pittsburgh traded up with the New England Patriots, Jones stated that he “rocks with Mike Tomlin” and is looking forward to playing under the head coach, who truly understands him as a player and a person.
“Man, it wasn’t any indication, but you know, I knew a lot of teams like me. They [Steelers] were on my list,” Jones said, according to audio via 93.7 The Fan. “I liked the Steelers a lot. I rock with Coach Mike Tomlin a whole bunch. I feel like he understands me. I’m just ready to get to it.”
Throughout the pre-draft process, a number of prospects spoke highly of Tomlin and expressed their desire to play for him, especially after meeting the longtime Steelers’ head coach at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Now, Jones gets that opportunity to play under a head coach that is universally revered and beloved within the industry.
While he might not rank atop player voting as the number one “player’s coach: any longer, Tomlin remains deeply respected around the league for his ability to relate to and communicate with players of all levels of experience.
Clearly that includes the incoming draft class of 2023, on which he seems to have once again left a lasting impression. Jones’ comments are the latest to echo that belief, especially in a year in which Tomlin was reportedly “winning the Combine,” according to CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala.
Though Tomlin certainly has some flaws as a coach on the field and the lack of playoff success in the last six years, he continues to be able to connect with players from all backgrounds and personalities. That matters.
Jones coming from a stable program at Georgia under head coach Kirby Smart, a coach who is demanding, but straightforward and able to connect with players. Now, he’s moving onto one of the most stable organizations in the NFL with a highly respected coach in Tomlin, making his landing in the NFL a comfortable one.
