Maria Taylor faces scrutiny during Mike Tomlin broadcast debut on NBC
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 10, 2026, 8:35 AM
Last updated Sep 10, 2026
NBC host Maria Taylor received criticism from sports analyst Jason Whitlock regarding her role during the season opener between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. The broadcast featured former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who made his debut as an NFL analyst alongside Taylor, Jason Garrett, and Devin McCourty. During the telecast, Taylor intervened to correct Tomlin after he repeatedly referred to Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as JNS instead of JSN. Tomlin, who concluded a 19-year coaching tenure in Pittsburgh following the 2025 season, is scheduled to return to the NBC booth for the Week 10 game between the Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The appearance marked a transition into media for the former coach, who described the NBC broadcast as the gold standard.
- •Mike Tomlin made his regular-season broadcasting debut on NBC during the Seahawks-Patriots game.
- •Jason Whitlock publicly criticized the NBC assignment of Maria Taylor alongside Tomlin.
- •Taylor corrected Tomlin on air after he misstated Jaxon Smith-Njigba's initials.
- •Tomlin is scheduled to return to the NBC booth for the Week 10 Steelers-Bengals game.
- 8:35 AMYahoo Sports — NBC’s Maria Taylor under pressure after pointed Mike Tomlin remark during Seahawks-Patriots broadcast
"NBC host Maria Taylor came under scrutiny during Mike Tomlin’s regular-season broadcasting debut after sports analyst Jason Whitlock took aim at her role alongside the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach. Tomlin made his first appearance as an NFL analyst on NBC’s “Football Night in America” for the Seattle Seahawks’ season opener against the New England Patriots.
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