Mike Tomlin has entered a new stage of his life, going from longtime Pittsburgh Steelers head coach to an NBC analyst on Football Night in America. However, since 2014, one thing has remained with him through winning seasons and Super Bowl runs: Minecraft.
On September 30th, Tomlin, alongside his son, Dino, released the first episode of a series revealing the Minecraft city he has worked on for many years. The announcement of the video had many on the edge of their seats.
The video delivered on that excitement. It prompted a plethora of memes on social media as everyone was captivated by the surprising meticulousness and beauty of the city, while also enjoying the typical Tomlin-like narration of the former coach.
More importantly, the viewers got an unprecedented glimpse into an intimate aspect of Tomlin’s life.
How and Why Did Tomlin Start?
Mike Tomlin broke the news of his more than decade-old secret during an interview with Craig Melvin on NBC’s TODAY show. Tomlin discovered the game when he saw his kids and their friends, who were in middle school in 2014, totally hooked on the game.
“I got interested because I was just mesmerized by what could occupy their attention for such long periods of time,” said Tomlin in the first episode of the YouTube series.
Since then, Tomlin has been hooked. It initially became a way for him to connect with his kids, choosing Creative mode over Survival — which he called Adventure mode — because he lacked the ‘stick control’ for it.
Even after his kids grew up and moved out, Minecraft became therapeutic; an outlet for his interest in architecture and a way to clear his mind of the stresses of coaching an NFL team— some “mindless entertainment,” as he called it. He would even take the console from his kids’ room to continue working on the city, according to Mayce Tomlin, Dino’s brother.
Dino Tomlin, who handles the video production side, said on his TikTok account that he initially suggested revealing the world on his Twitch stream after his dad’s retirement. The plan initially did not take off, especially with Tomlin starting his new NBC gig.
“He didn’t know how big Minecraft is, but he also didn’t understand that people would think it was interesting,” said Dino.
After telling Melvin about it, though, the reaction from him, his agents and the Internet motivated Tomlin. Dino then created a YouTube channel for his father and the Minecraft episodes.
Now, with the first episode out, football fans can truly see part of Tomlin’s life behind the scenes.
Rooftops, Penthouses, and Urban Living
Tomlin kicked off his Minecraft series by breaking down his thought process while assembling his city and the design philosophy of his early buildings, many inspired by structures he saw while traveling.
Even though he did not know exactly how big the city would become, Tomlin had a plan: focus on developing a densely populated urban setting around bodies of water.
In the tour, Tomlin takes the viewers through a boutique hotel and some high-end condos with luxury penthouses and rooftop entertainment areas. One of these buildings, which Tomlin said had his favorite rooftop penthouse, was a Trump Tower. Dino added in post-production some captions reading:
“Not an endorsement. This build is C. 2015… We did not think he would win. Twice.”
Tomlin’s attention to detail and architectural creativity shone throughout the video. The buildings each had a distinct look, with interiors tailored to each building’s purpose. The hotel had an intricate lobby and cozy rooms, while the Trump Tower rooftop had an open-floor plan with kitchens, dining spaces and bars.
There was even a building with an aquarium theme. It had rooms on every floor with a large rectangular fish tank as the central focus of the design. The building was rightfully located next to the river, the PNC-branded aquarium and a CVS pharmacy.
Tomlin Obsessed Over Skylines, Bathrooms, and Views
Tomlin also described how he fixated on particular aspects throughout his years building the city. These included office areas, Jack-and-Jill bathrooms, detailed bedrooms, and the aforementioned waterfront placement of his high-rises. The biggest one, though, became developing a breathtaking skyline for the apartments, which he achieved once the city grew.
“I was always view-conscious… I really wanted to have great views in these high-end urban apartment buildings,” said Tomlin while showing a building across a baseball stadium.
Ultimately, the video is vintage Mike Tomlin talking about one of his biggest interests. Every explanation felt like a locker room speech: charismatic, authentic, and full of Tomlinisms. It also showcases how hobbies evolve and become part of someone’s life.
For Tomlin, it went from spending time with his kids to a full-blown passion project to entertain himself.
What Awaits In Future Episodes?
There were many buildings Tomlin skipped over in the first episode but alluded to covering in future entries. The aquarium was one Tomlin was particularly excited to show, saying it is “crazy” and that viewers will “love it.” Other areas were sports arenas, such as a baseball stadium and an MLS stadium. While not mentioned, there seemed to be a similar structure to Acrisure Stadium off in the distance.
Regardless of what Tomlin decides to show in the next episode, the sports world is fascinated by his hobby and will be tuning in for the series.
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