Mike Tomlin steps down as Steelers head coach after 19 seasons

BARRY REEGER-IMAGN IMAGES

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin leaves the field, on Monday, following an AFC Wild Card Round loss to the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium.

PITTSBURGH >> Mike Tomlin is stepping down as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach after 19 seasons at the helm.

Tomlin informed the team of his decision today at a team meeting following Monday night’s home playoff loss to the Houston Texans.

“After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Tomlin said in a statement. “This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team. I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day, and to the coaches and staff whose commitment and dedication made this journey so meaningful.

“I want to also thank Steelers Nation. Your passion, loyalty, and high expectations represent what makes this franchise truly special. Coaching in Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else, and I will always take great pride in having been a steward of 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.”

Tomlin led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in his second season as head coach, but his final seasons were marked by playoff failures. The loss to the Texans was the seventh consecutive postseason loss, tying Tomlin for the longest playoff losing streak in NFL history.

Tomlin was hired by the Steelers when he was 34 and became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl. He leaves the Steelers tied with Chuck Noll for most regular-season victories in franchise history with 193.

Don't miss out on what's happening!

Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!

Email Sign Up
By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser's and Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.

Tomlin is tied for ninth place on the all-time list for most victories with Noll.

“During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our Head Coach,” Rooney said in a statement. “Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years. It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin. He guided 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 track record of never having a losing season in 19 years will likely never be duplicated.

“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’s final season was filled with adversity, but it ended in familiar fashion. He led the Steelers to a 10-7 regular season record, completing his 19th season without ever having a losing season.

But this season was a roller coaster for Tomlin, who had been the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach with one team. In the summer, he boasted the Steelers could have a “historic” defense after the offseason additions of defensive backs Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay.

The Steelers were one of the NFL’s worst defenses midway through the season. They released Slay and moved Ramsey to safety. The Steelers lost five of seven from mid-October through the end of November.

During the late stages of a 26-7 home loss to the Buffalo Bills, Tomlin was serenaded with “Fire Tomlin” chants from the home crowd at Acrisure Stadium.

The loss to the Bills dropped the Steelers to 6-6 and into a tie with the Ravens atop the AFC North division. Tomlin rallied the team the following week with a road win against the Ravens. It was the first of four victories in their final five games. They punched their ticket to the playoffs last Sunday with a thrilling come-from-behind victory against the Ravens in the regular-season finale, a 26-24 victory that was decided on a missed field goal as time expired.

That victory quieted his critics for a while, but the fans got loud again in the final minutes of the 30-6 blowout loss to the Texans. The “Fire Tomlin” chants returned, and Tomlin did not want to address his future at his postgame news conference.

“I’m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight,” Tomlin said. “I’m more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium and certainly what we did and didn’t do. Not a big-picture mentality as I sit here tonight.”

Tomlin won five of his first six playoff games, but he finished his Steelers career with an 8-12 postseason record. After beating the New York Jets in the 2010 AFC title game, Tomlin went 3-11 in the playoffs.

The only other NFL coach who had seven consecutive playoff defeats was former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

The Steelers now will begin the process of finding a replacement for Tomlin. There are eight other openings across the league. Tomlin is the third coach from the AFC North to step down or be fired since the end of the season. Baltimore fired John Harbaugh and Cleveland fired Kevin Stefanski. Harbaugh coached the Ravens for 18 seasons, one fewer than Tomlin’s tenure with the Steelers.

The new coach will step into arguably the NFL’s most stable franchise, but there will be issues to navigate in the coming months. Aaron Rodgers turned 42 last month and will decide in the coming weeks if he will continue to play or retire.

Rodgers is the oldest player on a roster filled with aging stars. Cam Heyward, who was named second-team All-Pro, will turn 37 in the spring and has no guaranteed money on his contract next season. T.J. Watt, one of the highest-paid defenders in the NFL, turned 31 in October and is coming off a tumultuous season of his own when he failed to reach double digits in sacks for only the third time in his nine-year career. The Steelers also have to make decisions on other aging veterans such as Ramsey, who also turned 31 in October.

The new coach will work alongside general manager Omar Khan, who signed a contract extension over the summer that ties him to the Steelers through 2028. Khan just completed his fourth season as GM.

____

See more:Sports Wire

2 Comments
By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.
Please log in to comment