The NFL announced disciplinary action against Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek for an incident involving Houston Texans receiver Jaylin Noel that drew plenty of attention.
Skowronek was fined $9,500 after appearing to deliver what’s commonly referred to as a “cup check” following a kick return. Video of the play showed Skowronek grabbing Noel’s manhood, an action the league did not overlook.
The incident occurred in the first quarter with 6:02 remaining and went unnoticed by game officials at the time. Skowronek previously played for the Texans in 2024 but was never teammates with Noel, who is a rookie.
Noel was clearly unhappy with the move and took to X to address it, posting, “This what we teaching on the Steelers? Wonder what his wife think about this…” Noel was the one who brought the infraction to the league’s attention.
Despite the fine, Skowronek was named to his first career Pro Bowl last month as a special teams player and is eligible to participate now that the Steelers have been eliminated.
GettyINGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 09: Ben Skowronek #15 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during warm up before the NFL 2025 game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Mike Tomlin Resigns, Opening a Highly Coveted Job
After 19 seasons, head coach Mike Tomlin announced he is stepping down, officially closing a historic chapter in Steelers history. Tomlin is expected to take at least a year away from coaching to focus on his family and was recently spotted attending his daughter’s gymnastics meet.
Tomlin’s tenure will be remembered for never producing a losing season and for leading Pittsburgh to a victory in Super Bowl XLIII.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II said he “wasn’t shocked” by Tomlin’s decision, but also admitted he “wasn’t expecting that conversation either.”
“I was certainly willing to take another run at it next year with Mike,” Rooney added. “That’s what I was expecting to talk about.”
With the position now open, the Steelers’ head coaching job immediately becomes one of the most coveted roles in football. The Rooney family is famously loyal, having employed only three head coaches since 1969 — Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin. As one social media user joked, there have been more popes than Steelers head coaches during the Super Bowl era.
According to reports, Pittsburgh has already interviewed several assistant coaches, including Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Other candidates with organizational ties include Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, and San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
GettyPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 12: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts before the game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium on January 12, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
If History is an Indicator, Steelers Focused on Minter, Flores
Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy said on NFL on NBC last week that Rooney may be especially interested in Minter and Flores, noting the organization’s preference for defensive-minded leaders.
Flores, who previously served as head coach in Miami, has rebuilt his reputation as one of the league’s top coordinators. The Vikings defense finished in the NFL’s top five this season, and Flores also worked under Tomlin in 2022.
Any hiring process will also be conducted under the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview candidates of color for head coaching vacancies. The policy is named after late Steelers owner Art Rooney. Flores remains involved in an ongoing lawsuit against the NFL alleging racial discrimination in the hiring process, a suit joined by other coaches. If hired, Flores would join a franchise with a long and complex history around race, potentially marking another significant chapter in Pittsburgh’s storied legacy.
NFL Announces Punishment for Steelers Wide Receiver in Loss to Texans