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For simply the fourth time since 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers will likely be on the lookout for a brand new coach. Longtime coach Mike Tomlin has agreed to step down from his publish in Pittsburgh, in keeping with CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz and Jonathan Jones. Tomlin’s determination alerts the top of a 19-year run in Pittsburgh because the longest tenured coach within the league.
In 2024, Steelers president Artwork Rooney II prolonged Tomlin’s contract whereas exuding confidence that Tomlin would get the franchise again to successful playoff video games. Since that extension, the Steelers have misplaced two extra playoff video games whereas extending their drought and not using a playoff win to 9 seasons.
“Throughout our assembly right this moment, coach Tomlin knowledgeable me that he has determined to step down as our head coach,” Rooney mentioned in an announcement. “Clearly, I’m extraordinarily grateful to Mike for all of the onerous work, dedication and success we shared during the last 19 years. It’s onerous for me to place into phrases the extent of respect and respect I’ve for coach Tomlin. He guided the franchise to our sixth Tremendous Bowl championship and made the playoffs 13 occasions throughout his tenure, together with successful the AFC North eight occasions in his profession. His observe document of by no means having a shedding season in 19 years will doubtless by no means be duplicated.
“My household and I, and everybody related to Steelers administration, are ceaselessly grateful for the eagerness and dedication Mike Tomlin has dedicated to Steelers soccer.”
Tomlin, 53, served because the Steelers’ coach from 2007-25. He gained a Tremendous Bowl throughout his second season (changing into the youngest head coach to take action on the time), guided the Steelers to a different Tremendous Bowl look throughout his fourth season. Tomlin then made NFL historical past by changing into the primary coach to start his profession with 19 consecutive non-losing seasons.
This previous season, Tomlin tied former Steelers Corridor of Fame coach Chuck Noll with 193 common season wins, the ninth-highest complete in league historical past. Together with the postseason, Tomlin gained 201 video games throughout his almost two-decade future with the Steelers. He additionally led the Steelers to their eighth AFC North division titles that included this previous season after Pittsburgh went 10-7.
Tomlin’s skill to constantly churn out aggressive groups is unmatched, however his groups have struggled of late within the postseason. After successful 5 of his first six playoff video games, Tomlin went simply 3-11 in his ultimate 14 playoff video games in Pittsburgh. He joined Bengals coach Marvin Lewis as the one two coaches in historical past to lose seven consecutive postseason video games after the Steelers misplaced to the Texans on this yr’s AFC wild card spherical.
Pittsburgh was largely outplayed in every of these losses. Of these seven losses, six have been of double-digit selection. Within the one outlier (a 45-42 loss to the Jaguars within the 2017 divisional spherical), the Steelers trailed 28-7 earlier than mounting an unsuccessful rally that included a landing with one second remaining that made the ultimate rating nearer than the sport really was.
Lack of stability on the quarterback place was one in all Pittsburgh’s main points throughout Tomlin’s ultimate seasons with the staff. Following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement on the finish of the 2021 season, the Steelers had six completely different beginning quarterbacks. And whereas every one had pockets of success, they have been unable to take the Steelers to the following degree when it comes to successful a playoff sport and making a severe run at a Tremendous Bowl.
As famous above, the Steelers have had simply three head coaches since 1969: Noll, Tomlin and Invoice Cowher, whose 15 years in Pittsburgh resulted in a Corridor of Fame induction in 2021. Tomlin will doubtless be a part of his predecessors in Canton, Ohio someday down the highway.
So far as the Steelers’ subsequent coach, the Steelers have traditionally employed first-time coaches who had had success as assistant coaches whereas working alongside among the greatest head coaches. Noll served on Don Shula’s employees earlier than getting the Steelers’ job, and Cowher was mentored by Marty Schottenheimer (who’s eighth on the all-time wins listing) earlier than he got here to Pittsburgh in 1992.
Tomlin was a place coach underneath each Tony Dungy and Jon Gruden and gained a Tremendous Bowl as a member of the 2002 Buccaneers‘ teaching employees. He then had a profitable stint because the Vikings‘ defensive coordinator earlier than being employed by then-Steelers proprietor Dan Rooney in 2007.
Whoever is the Steelers’ subsequent coach won’t solely have the tall activity in following in these coaches’ footsteps, he can even be charged with snapping the franchise’s drought and not using a playoff win, which dates again to the 2016 season.
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