Mike Tomlin Gets Candid about Steelers-Cowboys Historic Rivalry: ‘You Understand How Big This Game Is’

Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike Tomlin NFL Coach of the Year
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 24, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 24, 2024. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin usually downplays media storylines, but he didn’t when discussing the Steelers-Cowboys historic rivalry with Tony Dungy.

“The brands,” Tomlin said when Dungy asked what’s going through his mind ahead of Sunday night’s game. “I try to live in a vacuum this time of the year, but you can’t. You understand how big this game is by ticket requests and things of that nature. You feel it. I just been in it long enough to really appreciate being a part of something like this.”

The Steelers-Cowboys game on Sunday night is trending as the hottest ticket this week in the NFL and the third hottest NFL ticket this regular season, with an average ticket of $551, according to Vivid Seats.

With two iconic franchises facing each other in primetime, it’s not surprising that tickets are going at a high rate. The amount of Cowboys fans projected to be at the game is pretty eye-opening, though.

Vivid Seats projects that 46% of Acrisure Stadium will be Cowboys fans. Fans are traveling 624 miles, on average, making it the second furthest traveled game this weekend, just behind Giants-Seahawks.

Tomlin revealed that he discussed the history between the Steelers and Cowboys prior to Sunday night’s game.

“I did. To be quite honest with you,” Tomlin told Dungy. “I don’t want to run from it. I want to give them an opportunity to do something about. We talked about it at the top of the week. I wanted to put an edge on our preparation. We got a chance to maybe be a part of the most watched regular season game in NFL history. That’s the way I presented it, because of the strength of these two brands and primetime television. I’m really just excited to be a a part of it.”

Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen is also looking forward to the primetime matchup.

“When you look at two teams everybody goes for back in the day, it’s always Cowboys and Steelers,” Queen said. “’Sunday Night Football,’ everybody watching, the moments everybody lives for. So you’ve got the whole world watching, what are you going to do about it.”

Steelers running back Najee Harris knows all about the history of “America’s Team.”

“I get hyped for any game, man,” Harris said. “I’m excited just to be in the NFL in general. The Cowboys alone, they’re a great team, great history — ‘America’s Team.’ And the Steelers have a great team, great history. Man, to be a part of it is just kind of like playing in the Ravens game and being part of that. It’s a blessing.”

 

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