Few head coaches in all of sports are as synonymous with their team as Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tomlin, 52, stands alone as the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL and one of the longest-tenured head coaches in North American professional sports. This season marks Tomlin’s 18th year on the Pittsburgh sideline, and during that time he has lived through a period of change in the game and the league.
One of the most impressive aspects of Tomlin’s tenure is the nearly uninterrupted maintenance of the standards of excellence established by the Steelers, one of the most respected franchises in sports.
Here’s everything you need to know about Tomlin’s history in the Steel City.
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Coached by Mike Tomlin Team
Tomlin’s job as head coach of the Steelers is his only head coaching job in his coaching career, which began in 1995. Tomlin joined the Buccaneers as defensive backs coach in 2001 after spending six seasons coaching in college. He held that position until 2006. , when he became the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.
The Steelers hired Tomlin on January 27, 2007. Pittsburgh is one of only three NFL franchises Tomlin has been with during his career.
Tomlin is the longest-serving head coach in the NFL and the 16th head coach in Pittsburgh franchise history.
Longest tenured NFL head coach
Ranked Coach Team Hiring 1. Mike Tomlin Pittsburgh Steelers 20072. John Harbaugh Baltimore Ravens 20083. Andy Reid Kansas City Chiefs 20134. Sean McDermott Buffalo Bills 2017 Sean McVay Los Angeles Rams 2017 Kyle Shanahan San Francisco 49ers 2017
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Who managed the Steelers before Mike Tomlin?
Bill Cowher coached the Steelers before Mike Tomlin.
In 1992, Cowher was hired as the 15th head coach in Steelers franchise history. Cowher had an overall record of 161-99-1 as Pittsburgh’s head coach and led the team to victory in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Cowher resigned after the Steelers went 8-8 during the 2006 season and were one year away from winning the Super Bowl. Since retiring from coaching in 2007, Cowher has been an analyst for CBS’ NFL studio coverage.
Mike Tomlin coaching timeline
After a four-year playing career at William & Mary, Tomlin began his coaching career at VMI as the wide receivers coach.
During Tomlin’s college career, he had stints at Memphis, Arkansas State and Cincinnati before joining Tony Dungy’s staff as the Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach and winning a Super Bowl with head coach Jon Gruden.
After five seasons in Tampa, Tomlin was hired as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, serving for one season before leaving for Pittsburgh.
Year Team Position 1995 Virginia Military Academy Wide Receiver 1996 Memphis Graduate Assistant 1997-98 Arkansas Wide Receiver, Defensive Back 1999-2000 Cincinnati Defensive Back 2001-05 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Back 2006 Minnesota Vikings Defense Coordinator 2007-Current Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach
Mike Tomlin’s coaching results
Tomlin’s coaching record is 176-101-2 in the regular season and 8-10 in the playoffs. Under Tomlin, the Steelers have appeared in the playoffs 11 times, won seven AFC North titles, reached two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XLIII.
Most notably, Tomlin has never had a losing season as a head coach. The Steelers finished 8-8 three times, but never fell below .500 during the Tomlin era.
He is now 15 wins away from entering the top 10 in total wins for managers.
Season Records Postseason Records Ended 200710-60-1 Lost in the Wild Card Game2008 12-43-0 Won the Super Bowl432009-7—Missed the Playoffs201012-42-1 Lost in the Super Bowl45201112-40-1 Wild Card Game Lost in20128-8—Missed Playoffs20138-8—Missed Playoffs201411- 50 -1 Lost in Wild Card Game201510-61-1 Lost in Division Round201611-52-1 Lost in AFC Championship201713-30-1 Lost in Division 20189-6-1—missed the playoffs20198-8—missed the playoffs202012-40-1 lost in the wild card game20219-7-10-1 lost in the wild card game20229-8—missed the playoffs Lost 202310-70-1 Wild Card Game 20243-1—Career 176-101-28-10
Mike Tomlin signed
Unless there is some change in direction, Tomlin’s time as the Steelers’ head coach won’t end anytime soon. In June, Tomlin and the Steelers agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2027 season.
As with most head coaching deals, specific numbers were not disclosed, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggested Tomlin is one of the highest-paid coaches in NFL history.
