After guiding the Steelers back to the playoffs, Mike Tomlin received another extension. The 15th-year head coach agreed to terms on a three-year deal Tuesday, one that ties him to the team through the 2024 season. This marks Tomlin’s sixth Steelers extension and his first three-year re-up since 2012.
Tomlin’s most recent contract ran through 2021. The Steelers, who famously have only had three head coaches since 1969, will continue their run of stability into the mid-2020s. Tomlin’s new deal comes shortly after the Steelers and longtime GM Kevin Colbert agreed to terms on another extension. Colbert’s new contract runs through 2022.
The Steelers managed an 8-8 record in 2019, doing so despite Antonio Brown‘s messy departure and Ben Roethlisberger‘s early-season elbow injury. They improved upon that mark last year, starting 11-0 and going 12-4. The Steelers led the NFL in sacks for a fourth straight season, powering the team back to the postseason. While the team endured another disappointing playoff exit, Tomlin has continually placed the Steelers in the NFL’s upper echelon. His next challenge may be daunting as well.
Pittsburgh has lost a few starters and has yet to formulate a true post-Big Ben plan, redoing their 18th-year quarterback’s contract ahead of his age-39 season. Roethlisberger struggled down the stretch and committed five turnovers in the wild-card loss to the Browns. The team ranked last in rushing and is retooling its offensive line, with multiple starters — including perennial Pro Bowler Maurkice Pouncey — moving on. Tomlin will also have a new offensive coordinator in 2021. The Steelers replaced Randy Fichtner with Matt Canada.
Tomlin’s new deal will allow him to coach into his 50s, should he choose to do so. He will match Bill Cowher this season, by coaching the Steelers for 15 years. While Tomlin has a ways to go to match Chuck Noll‘s 23-season tenure, he remains on solid ground.
Lol why?!?!
Good move. He has his warts, but he is still one of the best coaches out there.
You must not watch Steeler games. He’s horrible.
Agreed.
Steelers nation is split on Tomlin. He’s well respected which means something
True, he has his moments, but at the end of the day he’s still better than most coaches and has a proven track record. I’d take him over most coaches out there, and it’s further proof that the organization does a great job when hiring its staff. How many coaches have we had in the past ~50 years…?
The wheels are about to come off the Tomlin bus. The 2019 season was a window into what the post-Roethlisberger era will look like – as good coaching is often confused with having good players.
He is among the top nfl coaches. If you replaced him, who would be better?
Saleh or Frazier would be good replacements, but essentially, any coach who can actually coach and keep his players disciplined and who can understand clock management. I wish Cowher was still there.
Cowher’s record is virtually the same as Tomlin’s. And zero losing seasons.
He’s been coaching in the NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE for 14 years and never had a losing record. Makes the playoffs most years. Been to two Super Bowls. Won one of them.
If he is not, what would a good coaches’ resume look like?
The local sports talking heads keep talking about the end of year collapse in 2019 and 2020 like there were no injury/illness issues involved. 2019 had Duck Hodges behind center. No wonder the offense could not move the ball and score. Opposing coaches quickly realized that Hodges had no arm strength and could cheat up and their DB’s could easily move back to defend a longer pass because most times the receivers were just standing waiting for the ball no matter how deep the pass was thrown. Last year, lost 3 starting LB to injury. were rotating back up OL. and were missing players due to Covid at the end of the year. Joe Haden missed at least the last to games due to Covid protocol.
The Rooney’s know a loyal foot soldier when they see one.