The Cleveland Browns’ 34-10 loss to Jacksonville has become a talking point well beyond Cleveland media, and now it has caught the attention of one of the AFC North’s most recognizable voices. Mike Tomlin, who stepped away from coaching the Steelers after last season and now works as an NFL studio analyst for NBC Sports, weighed in on Deshaun Watson’s rough afternoon.
Tomlin did not hold back when discussing Watson’s performance against the Jaguars.
“[Deshaun Watson is] not off to a good start here. He throws an interception. In the words of my friend JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Browns is the Browns,” Tomlin said.
Mike Tomlin: "In the words of my friend JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Browns is the Browns." 🏈💀🎙️ pic.twitter.com/5jRJYeRgG1
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2026
Watson’s interception has already become one of the most scrutinized plays of the entire season opener, feeding directly into questions about his job security that started almost immediately after the final whistle. Watson himself pushed back on the idea that one turnover should define the outing.
Cleveland and Pittsburgh have shared one of the more physical division matchups in football for years, and Tomlin has rarely missed an opportunity to take a jab at the Browns when given the platform. Comments like this one tend to circulate quickly around both fan bases, and they add another layer of noise to a week already dominated by questions about Watson, the offensive line and a pass rush that finished Sunday without a single pressure from Jared Verse.
The Browns will face the Steelers in Week 4, and Tomlin’s comments serve as an early reminder of how much scrutiny follows this franchise whenever it stumbles out of the gate. Turning that narrative around starts with Tampa Bay next week, and another slow start would only add fuel to exactly the kind of outside criticism Tomlin just delivered.
NEXT: Deshaun Watson Addresses Questions About His Confidence
