Mike Tomlin – the longest-tenured head coach in major American professional sports – has left his job as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after another quick playoff exit.
The announcement comes a day after his 19th season ended in Pittsburgh, where he was a relative unknown when he was hired to replace Bill Cowher in early 2007.
Tomlin won one Super Bowl and went to another during his first four seasons in Pittsburgh before the club established a pattern of solid if not always spectacular play, followed by a playoff cameo that ended with the Steelers on the wrong side.
“Obviously, I’m extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we’ve shared over the last 19 years. It’s hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement.
“He led the franchise to our sixth Super Bowl championship and made the playoffs 13 times during his tenure, including winning the AFC North eight times in his career. His record of never having a losing season in 19 years will likely never be duplicated.”
Tomlin, 53, won 193 regular-season games in Pittsburgh, tying Chuck Noll for the most wins in franchise history.
But their resumes differed when it came to the playoffs.
While Noll won four Super Bowls in the 1970s, Tomlin went just 8-12 in the postseason, losing each of his last seven playoff games, all by double digits.
The latest came Monday night, when the AFC North champions squandered some early momentum before being shut out 30-6 by Houston, the worst home playoff loss in team history.
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Tomlin has two years left on the contract extension he signed in 2024, and the club had an option for 2027.
His departure leaves the Steelers searching for a head coach for just the third time since they hired Noll in 1969.
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