Travis Kelces’s ex Kayla Nicole stunned reaction to Mike Tomlin stepping away from Steelers echoes bittersweet sentiments within the NFL

News broke recently that Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons. It was the end of one of the league’s most stable and respected coaching tenures, and reactions from fans, players, and media personalities poured in, showing immense gratitude to the coach.Among them was Kayla Nicole, who is no stranger to being vocal about big happenings around the NFL. Known for her past relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce and her continued presence around the league, Nicole expressed her shock when hearing the news, as she seemed to have the greatest respect for Tomlin like many others.

A short reaction that echoed a much bigger NFL moment

ESPN first reported Tomlin’s departure from the Steelers through an Instagram post, highlighting his long run in Pittsburgh and his unmatched consistency.

Nicole reshared the post on her Instagram story and added a simple caption: “OMG.” Tomlin joined the Steelers in 2007 and never once finished a season with a losing record, a rare achievement in modern NFL history.

In his farewell statement, Tomlin stated that he was grateful and felt blessed to have led the team. He said, "This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team. I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day…He also thanked his team and players for giving their hard & soul to the game and making his job easier.

According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Tomlin is not expected to coach during the 2026 season, signaling that this decision is about stepping back from the role for quite a while. This was not the only time that Nicole made her opinions known about significant NFL news. She also recently showed support for San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle after he suffered a torn Achilles in the wild-card playoff loss to the Eagles. After Kittle shared a heartfelt message about his injury, Nicole wished him to get well soon and praised his immense dedication on the field. Also read: “Until you look at that bill”: Travis Kelce's ex Kayla Nicole calls out the hidden financial weight of egg freezing in new viral interview