The Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin decided to extend their successful partnership. This Monday, the head coach signed a three-year contract extension, which guarantees him a place on the team until at least 2027. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
In a statement on the team’s website, Art Rooney II, president and owner of the team, said, “Mike Tomlin’s leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach.”
Rooney explained, “Extending his contract for three more years reflects our confidence in his ability to guide the team back to winning playoff games and championships while continuing our tradition of success.”
Tomlin joined the Steelers in 2007 after playing various roles on college and NFL teams. Before signing with Pittsburgh, he had been defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings. Tomlin replaced Bill Cowher, who spent 15 seasons with the team.
In search of a new championship
In the same statement, Tomlin said he was grateful to the team’s management, especially Rooney, “for his support during my first 17 years in Pittsburgh.”
The head coach assured that “we are continuing to work diligently to get back to where we belong – sustained playoff success with the ultimate goal of winning the franchise’s seventh Lombardi Trophy.”
He also admitted, “I am very excited to get the 2024 season underway and provide our fans with a memorable year.”
Tomlin’s numbers
Mike Tomlin
is only the third head coach the Steelers have had since the creation of the NFL. The other two were the legendary Chuck Noll (1969-1991) and Cowher (1992-2006). This is a sign that one of the things that the team’s management values most is stability at the helm.
In his career in Pittsburgh, Tomlin has a record of 173 wins, 100 losses, and two ties in the regular season. He has never had a losing season in his 17 years leading the team. That is the third-longest streak of winning seasons by any coach in NFL history.
Under his command, the Steelers have won seven AFC North titles, have played in the postseason 11 times, and have played in two Super Bowls. They won the XLIII 27-23 against the Arizona Cardinals, and in the XLV they lost 25-31 with the Green Bay Packers.