Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II spoke with the media on Wednesday, nearly one day after now-former head coach Mike Tomlin announced that he was stepping down from his position.

Rooney began his press conference by once again thanking Tomlin for his many contributions over 19 seasons, but also said he and general manager Omar Khan would immediately start the search for a new head coach.

In looking for the next head coach, Rooney said the team will cast a wide net to find Tomlin's successor, while also noting that he did not believe anyone on Tomlin's coaching staff would be a candidate for the head coaching position.

"I don't think anyone on our current staff is a candidate," Rooney said. "Maybe a candidate to stay on the staff, depending on what the new head coach wants to do."

"I was willing to take another run at it with Mike"

Rooney admitted he was not shocked by Tomlin's decision to step away, but was not expecting the conversation to happen as quickly as it did in the wake of the Steelers' season ending.

"I was certainly willing to take another run at it with Mike, and that's what I was expecting to talk about yesterday, but obviously, it went in a different direction."

Rooney also noted that in his conversation with Tomlin, Tomlin indicated that he would not be coaching in the near future, instead choosing to spend time with his family.

When asked if Rooney tried to talk Tomlin out of his decision to resign, Rooney said he did not, respecting Tomlin's choice to leave the organization.

"He was pretty clear about what his intentions were. We had a great conversation, and I understood where he was," Rooney said. "He said it himself. He knows it's not going to go forever. I think we all knew we were getting towards the end."

Questions at quarterback?

With Tomlin's departure and quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a one-year deal, the question was raised about whether the veteran Rodgers would return with a new head coach. 

Rooney said he anticipated a change at quarterback due to Rodgers' relationship with Tomlin.

"Aaron came here to play for Mike. So that will likely affect his decision."