A late and unexpected vacancy has spun the NFL’s offseason coaching carousel into overdrive.
Mike Tomlin is stepping down from the Pittsburgh Steelers after a 19-year run leading the storied organization, the team announced Tuesday.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement that Tomlin informed him of the decision on Tuesday morning.
‘Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years,’ Rooney said. ‘It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin. … My family and I, and everyone connected to Steelers management, are forever grateful for the passion and dedication Mike Tomlin has devoted to Steelers football.’
Tomlin issued his own statement Tuesday, saying: ‘This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team. … While this chapter comes to a close, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change. I am excited for what the future holds for this organization, and I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.’
With a career record of 201-126-2 including the postseason, Tomlin stood as not only the longest-tenured active coach but also one of the winningest figures in NFL history. His 193 career regular-season victories are tied with fellow former Steelers coach Chuck Noll for ninth all-time.
Now, a franchise that has only known three head coaches since 1969 will be facing a rare moment of upheaval.
The opening will be the ninth vacancy in the NFL this offseason.
Speculation about Tomlin’s future had lingered in a campaign in which Pittsburgh didn’t seal a playoff spot until its Week 18 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. After a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round – which marked the largest deficit in a home playoff defeat in franchise history – Tomlin shrugged off questions about what was next for both him and the organization.
‘I’m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight,’ said Tomlin, who had been under contract through 2026 with a club option for an additional year due to be exercised by March. ‘I’m more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium, and certainly what we did or didn’t do.’
Hired in 2007 at 34 years old to succeed future Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher, Tomlin led the organization to a Super Bowl title in just his second year at the helm. He quickly became the gold standard for stability, as the Steelers never suffered a losing season during his reign, a stretch that was unmatched by any other coach to start his career.
But postseason disappointments became a recurring theme of the latter half of his tenure. The loss to the Texans was Tomlin’s seventh consecutive postseason defeat, leaving him tied for the worst playoff losing streak of any coach in league history. Pittsburgh, which has not won in the playoffs since the 2016 season, also now stands alone as the only team in league history to lose five consecutive playoff games by double digits.
After Monday’s defeat, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers came to the defense of Tomlin and Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who had also coached the four-time NFL MVP and faced uncertainty regarding his standing after his own team’s wild-card exit.
“This league has changed a lot in my 21 years,” Rodgers said. “You know, when you hear conversation about the Mike Tomlins of the world, Matt LaFleurs of the world – those are just two that I’ve played for – when I first got in the league, there wouldn’t be (a) conversation about whether those guys were on the hot seat.”
(This story was updated to add a video.)
