Mike Tomlin Opens Up About $100,000 Fine Over Jacoby Jones' Kickoff Return

Mike Tomlin recalls the controversial moment during Jacoby Jones' kickoff return© X/@AdamSchefter

Mike Tomlin will never forget the night that a regular coaching tradition turned it into one of the biggest controversies of his career. The Pittsburgh Steelers coach stood in the path of Jacoby Jones during a kickoff return during the 2013 game between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. This led to questions about his intentions and meant he ended up losing $100,000. Over a decade later, he has spoken on what happened during the incident and why he made the move.

Mike Tomlin shares his side of the 2013 incident

Speaking on the Not Just Football podcast, Tomlin recalled watching the kickoff return on the stadium's giant screen when he suddenly noticed himself on camera.

He had been following the play from the screen, as he usually did during kickoff returns, when he realized Jones was running toward his sideline.

“I looked up at the jumbotron to watch what was happening. I see myself come into the jumbotron. That's when I discovered that he was coming up our sideline,” Tomlin explained.

The unusual camera angle left him confused about his position on the field. He also noticed one of his players going down, which added to the confusion as he tried to follow the action.

“Spatially, I get disoriented where I am, and I'm watching something that I don't want to happen,” he said. Tomlin added that he immediately moved to his left after seeing himself on the screen because he feared Jones might run into him.

“The truth didn't save me from a fine,” he said while recalling the incident. The NFL's investigation did not change the outcome, even though Tomlin maintained that he never intended to interfere with the return.

NFL investigation led to a $100,000 fine for Tomlin

The incident happened during the third quarter of the Steelers' 22-20 loss to the Ravens on November 28, 2013.

After Pittsburgh scored, Jones returned the following kickoff for 73 yards before Steelers cornerback Cortez Allen brought him down. The returner later admitted that Tomlin's presence affected his run.

“It broke my stride a little bit,” Jones said after the game. “(But) I still shouldn't have got caught.”

The NFL investigated Tomlin's actions and reviewed his behavior during previous games. According to Tomlin, he regularly stood near the yard line where kickoffs began to check whether his players were onside. He then followed the ball on the stadium screen to watch the two units come together.

The league ruled that his position near the playing field interfered with a play in progress. It fined him $100,000 and left open the possibility of taking away Pittsburgh's draft picks. The Steelers eventually avoided losing any selections.

Tomlin had accepted responsibility at the time, calling his actions an embarrassing and inexcusable mistake. Former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had defended him, saying he understood why the coach watched the jumbotron during games.