 Tomlin in 2016 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1972-03-15)March 15, 1972 (age 53) Hampton, Virginia, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school | Denbigh(Newport News, Virginia) |
| College | William & Mary (1990–1994) |
| Position | Wide receiver |
| Career history | |
| |
| Awards and highlights | |
| As head coach: As assistant coach:
NFL record
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season | 189–112–2 (.627) |
| Postseason | 8–11 (.421) |
| Career | 197–123–2 (.615) |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Michael Pettaway Tomlin (born March 15, 1972) is an American professionalfootball coach who is thehead coach of thePittsburgh Steelers in theNational Football League (NFL). Since joining the Steelers in 2007, he has led the team to 12 playoff appearances, seven division titles, threeAFC Championship Games, twoSuper Bowl appearances, and a title inSuper Bowl XLIII. At age 36, Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl, a record which was later broken bySean McVay inSuper Bowl LVI. Tomlin holds the record for most consecutive non-losing seasons to begin a coaching career with 18 and has never had a losing season. OnlyTom Landry (21) andBill Belichick (19) have had longer such streaks at any point in their coaching careers. Upon Belichick's departure from theNew England Patriots following the2023 season, Tomlin became the NFL's longest-tenured active head coach. FollowingGregg Popovich's departure from theSan Antonio Spurs following the2025 season, Tomlin became the longest-tenured active head coach in the"Big Four" sports leagues.
Tomlin was born inHampton, Virginia,[1] the younger of two sons; his brother, Eddie, is three and a half years older. His father,Ed Tomlin, played football atHampton Institute in the 1960s, was drafted by theBaltimore Colts, and later played for theMontreal Alouettes in theCanadian Football League. The elder Tomlin died in January 2012 from an apparent heart attack in Ocala, Florida, at age 63. However, Tomlin hardly knew his birth father and was raised by his mother and stepfather, Julia and Leslie Copeland, who married when Tomlin was six years old.
Tomlin graduated in 1990 fromDenbigh High School inNewport News, Virginia. He graduated from theCollege of William and Mary with asociology degree in 1995,[2] becoming a member ofKappa Alpha Psi fraternity. As awide receiver, Tomlin was a second-team All-Yankee Conference selection in 1994.
Tomlin's coaching career began in 1995 as the wide receiver coach atVirginia Military Institute under head coachBill Stewart.[3] Tomlin spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant at theUniversity of Memphis, where he worked with the defensive backs andspecial teams.[4] Following a brief stint on theUniversity of Tennessee at Martin's coaching staff, Tomlin was hired byArkansas State University in 1997 to coach its defensive backs.[5][6] He stayed there for two seasons, before being hired as defensive backs coach by theUniversity of Cincinnati.[7]
Tomlin was hired as the defensive backs coach for theTampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001 under head coachTony Dungy, where Tomlin first learned theTampa 2 defense that he would use in later coaching jobs.[8]
Tomlin was retained under new head coachJon Gruden, and in2002 and2005, the Buccaneers led the NFL in total defense (fewest yards allowed per game). During Tomlin's tenure, the defense never ranked worse than sixth overall. When the Buccaneers wonSuper Bowl XXXVII in January 2003, the team recorded a Super Bowl-record five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns.[9]
Tomlin was selected by Vikings' head coachBrad Childress to be his defensive coordinator in 2006.[10][11]
Two of the players on the Vikings roster were older than Tomlin, and Tomlin had been a teammate of Vikings' safetyDarren Sharper while at William and Mary. The2006 Vikings finished with the NFL's eighth-best overall defense, but had the unusual distinction of finishing as the top-ranked defense against the run[12] and the worst-ranked defense against the pass.[13]
After spending 2006 as the Vikings' defensive coordinator, Tomlin was selected to interview for the vacant head coaching position with the2005 Super Bowl championPittsburgh Steelers. With only a year of experience as a defensive coordinator, Tomlin was hired on January 27, 2007, to become the16th head coach in franchise history, replacingBill Cowher, who retired after spending 15 years with the team. Tomlin had also interviewed for the head coaching vacancy with theMiami Dolphins, a job that eventually went to formerIndiana head coachCam Cameron.With Tomlin, the Steelers continued a trend of hiring head coaches in their 30s. The others were Cowher (age 34 in 1992),Chuck Noll (38 in 1969),Bill Austin (38 in 1966),John Michelosen (32 in 1948),Jim Leonard (35 in 1945),Aldo Donelli (33 in 1941),Walt Kiesling (35 in 1939),Johnny "Blood" McNally (33 in 1937), andJoe Bach (34 in 1935).
Tomlin is the 10thAfrican-American head coach in NFL history and the first for the Steelers franchise. Steelers ownerDan Rooney has served as the head of the NFL's diversity committee and proposed theRooney Rule, requiring that teams interview at least one minority candidate when hiring a new head coach. Although Tomlin's ascension to an NFL head coaching job has been cited as evidence of the rule working as intended,[14] Rooney himself disputed this, as he had already interviewed a minority candidate prior to interviewing Tomlin.[15]
The Rooney Rule dictates that for all head-coaching openings, each team must interview at least one minority candidate. But here's what's interesting: The coach who might be the Rooney Rule's greatest advertisement didn't benefit from it. "Let me say this: Mike Tomlin was not part of the Rooney Rule," Rooney said. "We had already interviewed Ron Rivera [then the Bears' defensive coordinator], and so that fulfilled the obligation," Rooney said. "We went on, had heard about Mike, called him in and talked to him. He was very impressive."
Terms of Tomlin's contract were not officially released. ThePittsburgh Post-Gazette reported a four-year deal paying $2.5 million per year, with an option for a fifth year.
In contrast to Bill Cowher, who retained only longtime running backs coachDick Hoak from Chuck Noll's staff (Hoak himself retired just before Cowher's resignation), Tomlin did retain many of Cowher's assistants, most notablydefensive coordinatorDick LeBeau, whose defensive philosophy contrasted with Tomlin's. This was done in order to keep team chemistry with the players, since the team was only one year removed from aSuper Bowl win at the time of Tomlin's hiring. In 2007, the Steelers finished with the top-ranked defense in the NFL.[16] Tomlin led theSteelers to the 2007AFC North Division championship and a 10–6 record in his first year as head coach.[17] The Steelers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 31–29. Tomlin began his career with a 15–7 record in regular season play—as did his predecessor Cowher and all-time win-leaderDon Shula.[18] Tomlin set a Steelers record for most wins, after winning 22 games in his first two seasons as head coach; in addition he became the first Steelers coach to win division titles in his first two seasons.[19]
When the Steelers defeated theBaltimore Ravens in the2008 AFC Championship Game,[20] Tomlin became the youngest NFL head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl.[21] He also became the third African-American to coach a team to the Super Bowl, followingChicago'sLovie Smith andIndianapolis'sTony Dungy, the two opposing coaches inSuper Bowl XLI. On January 29, 2009, Tomlin was named the 2008 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year.[22] Three days later, at age 36, he became the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl when the Steelers defeated theArizona Cardinals inSuper Bowl XLIII by a score of 27–23.[23] The previous record was held byJon Gruden, who was 39 when he wonSuper Bowl XXXVII with theTampa Bay Buccaneers. Coincidentally, Tomlin was the defensive backs coach under Gruden when the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl and was a key component in their success that year.[24] Tomlin's record was eclipsed bySean McVay, who was 303 days younger when winningSuper Bowl LVI.[25]
On July 13, 2010, Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension with the Steelers.[26] That season, he coached the Steelers to a 12–4 record and led them to the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.[27] InSuper Bowl XLV, the Steelers lost to theGreen Bay Packers by a score of 31–25.[28]
On November 13, 2011, Tomlin won his 50th game as the Steelers' head coach with a 24–17 victory over theCincinnati Bengals. Of the Steelers' 16 head coaches in franchise history, Tomlin was the fourth to reach this milestone. The Steelers recorded another 12–4 regular season mark in the 2011 season.[29] The Steelers' season ended in theWild Card Round with a 29–23 overtime loss to theDenver Broncos.[30]
On July 24, 2012, Tomlin received a three-year contract extension through the 2016 season.[31] The financial terms were not disclosed. In the2012 season, the Steelers finished with an 8–8 record after struggling with injuries to quarterbackBen Roethlisberger and the offensive line and adjusting to the system of new offensive coordinatorTodd Haley.[32][33] It was the second time the Steelers failed to make the playoffs under Tomlin's tenure as head coach.
Facing theBaltimore Ravens on November 28, 2013, in a primetimeThanksgiving Day game with major playoff implications, Tomlin became the subject of controversy when video replay showed him interfering with a kick return. With the Steelers trailing 13–7 in the third quarter, Tomlin stood just off the field along the visiting team's sideline as Baltimore'sJacoby Jones broke free on a kickoff return for a potential game-breaking touchdown.[34] Tomlin, with his back to the approaching play, appeared to glance over his shoulder then place his foot briefly onto the field as he jumped out of the way, causing Jones to veer inside where he was tackled. Several Ravens players claimed Tomlin had intentionally interfered with Jones; if officials had agreed, a touchdown could have been awarded to the Ravens based on thepalpably unfair act. However, no penalty was called for interference or for standing in the white border area reserved for the officiating crew. Whether it was intentional or not, Tomlin was widely criticized in the media. Following the game, Tomlin defended himself, stating he had simply wandered too close to the field while watching the play on the stadium'sJumbotron, a mistake he said coaches often make.[35] The league subsequently announced it was investigating the matter, with the potential of a heavy fine and forfeited draft picks.[34] On December 4, 2013, the NFL announced that they had fined Tomlin $100,000, and hinted it was considering stripping the Steelers of one or more draft picks because his actions affected the play on the field.[36] The $100,000 fine was tied for the second-highest for a coach in NFL history and was also tied for the highest for a coach who does not also have the powers of general manager. Then-Minnesota Vikings head coachMike Tice was fined $100,000 in 2005 for scalping Super Bowl tickets.[37] Tomlin led the Steelers to another 8–8 record in the 2013 season, missing the postseason.[38]
Tomlin led the Steelers to improvement in the 2014 season, going 11–5 and winning the AFC North.[39] The team saw their season end in theWild Card Round to theBaltimore Ravens in a 30–17 loss.[40] The 2014 season saw the birth of theKiller B's era in which Roethlisberger along with wide receiverAntonio Brown and running backLe'Veon Bell all hit their primes.
In the 2015 season, Tomlin and the Steelers recorded a 10–6 mark, which qualified the team for the postseason.[41] The Steelers defeated theCincinnati Bengals on the road by a score of 18–16 in theWild Card Round before falling to theDenver Broncos on the road by a score of 23–16 in theDivisional Round.[42][43]
The 2016 season marked significant improvement for the Steelers. Tomlin led the team to a 11–5 record as the Steelers won seven straight games to finish the season.[44] The Steelers finished atop the AFC North and defeated theMiami Dolphins 30–12 in theWild Card Round and theKansas City Chiefs 18–16 in theDivisional Round.[45][46] In the Steelers' firstAFC Championship Game since the 2010 season, they fell to theNew England Patriots 36–17.[47]
The following season, Tomlin and the Steelers went 13–3 and won the AFC North.[48] Despite the successful regular season, the team went one-and-done in the playoffs, losing 45–42 to theJacksonville Jaguars in theDivisional Round.[49]
In 2019, the Steelers lost starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger after a narrow Week 2 28–26 loss to theSeattle Seahawks.[50] Although the Steelers had started the season 0–3, they got their first win in a Week 4 27–3 victory over theCincinnati Bengals onMonday Night Football.[51] The Steelers lost their next game to the division-winningBaltimore Ravens in a 26–23 overtime loss. After the 1–4 start, the Steelers would go on a winning streak, winning their next four games straight going 5–4. After losing a game on the road to theCleveland Browns by a score of 21–14, the Steelers won three more straight and were 8–5 and fighting for a playoff spot with the loss of Roethlisberger and multiple injuries on the offense. The Steelers would lose their final three games and finish the season with an 8–8 record in spite of multiple quarterback changes betweenMason Rudolph and rookie undrafted free agentDevlin Hodges.[52]
Following an incident in November 2019 whereCleveland Browns defensive endMyles Garrett struck quarterbackMason Rudolph with a helmet in the closing minutes of the game, he initially refused all media questions related to the scuffle.[53] In the months following the incident, Garrett accused Rudolph of using a racial slur as an explanation for the fight.[54] On February 17, 2020, Tomlin appeared on ESPN to be interviewed byStephen A Smith to defend Rudolph against the accusations.[55]
On November 6, 2020, Tomlin was finedUS$100,000 by the NFL for not properly wearing aface mask, as required for coaches during theCOVID-19 pandemic, during a Week 8 game in the2020 NFL season.[56] After Week 9 of the 2020 season, Tomlin recorded his 14th consecutive non-losing season since becoming a head coach, tying him withMarty Schottenheimer for the longest streak of all time.[57] The Steelers finished the 2020 season with a 12–4 record but lost in theWild Card Round of the playoffs to theCleveland Browns. With the conclusion of the2020 season, Tomlin was tied withPete Carroll for 21st place on theNFL's all-time regular-season wins list with 145.[58]
On April 20, 2021, Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension to remain the Steelers' head coach through 2024.[59] Tomlin led the Steelers to a 9–7–1 mark in the 2021 season.[60] The Steelers made the playoffs but saw their season end in theWild Card Round to theKansas City Chiefs in a 42–21 road loss.[61]
The 2021 season was particularly notable for Tomlin as it was the 18th and final season in whichBen Roethlisberger was under center for the Steelers.[62] Since Tomlin's hiring in 2007, the Steelers posted a record of 137–70–1 in games in which Roethlisberger was the starter.[63] Up until Roethlisberger's retirement in February 2022, Tomlin had only coached 95 games without him, achieving a record of 46–48–1.[64]
The 2022 season was Tomlin's 16th with the team, passing predecessorBill Cowher for the second-longest tenure as head coach of the Steelers.[65] December 11, 2022, marked the 32nd matchup between Tomlin andBaltimore Ravens head coachJohn Harbaugh, surpassingCurly Lambeau andSteve Owen for the second-most head-to-head matchups between head coaches in NFL history (the current record is held by Lambeau andGeorge Halas with 49).[66] Tomlin coached the Steelers to a 9–8 record in 2022, missing the playoffs.[67]The 2023 season was Tomlin's 17th with the team, finishing 10–7, and losing to theBuffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round, 31–17.[68][69] On June 10, 2024, Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension to remain the Steelers' head coach through the 2027 season, making him the second longest tenured Steelers head coach of all time, only behindChuck Noll by three seasons.[70]
On December 1, 2024, Tomlin achieved his 18th consecutive non-losing season with a 44–38 victory over theBengals that brought the Steelers to a 9–3 record.[71] During the 2024 season, Tomlin and the Steelers, along with the rest of the AFC North, had their season documented for theHBO Max seriesHard Knocks.[72] The Steelers ended their 2024 campaign going 10–7, finishing with a four game losing streak going into the playoffs.[73] The Steelers lost to theBaltimore Ravens in a 28–14Wild Card Round exit for the team.[74]
Following the 2024 season, Tomlin faced significant criticism for his lack of postseason success.[75][76] Since the team's 2016 AFC championship appearance, the Steelers had yet to record a post-season victory, making Tomlin the coach with second longest playoff win drought in NFL history only behindMarvin Lewis.[77] Calls to fire Tomlin were silenced by Steelers ownerArt Rooney II who confirmed there were no plans to fire Tomlin. The team declined to trade Tomlin to theChicago Bears in January 2025.[78][79]
Following the retirement ofGregg Popovich on May 3, 2025, Tomlin officially became the longest tenured head coach in thebig four of American sports.[80] Tomlin led the Steelers to a 3–1 record to begin their 2025 campaign heading into their Week 5bye. The Steelers held first place in the AFC North until a Week 12 loss to theChicago Bears dropped their record to 6–5, giving up their position to theBaltimore Ravens and falling into the 8th seed in the AFC.[81]
Throughout his tenure with the Steelers, Tomlin became known for creating memorable motivational quotes, often referred to as "Tomlinisms".[82][83][84] These phrases are typically concise, metaphorical, and aimed at reinforcing a specific mindset or message about the team and give insight into Tomlin's coaching philosophy. Over time, these phrases became part of Steelers culture, with players adopting them as guiding principles and fans celebrating them as reflections of Tomlin's personality.[85]
One of his most iconic phrases, "The standard is the standard," is an early example of a Tomlinism. This mantra became particularly notable during the 2010 season when the Steelers reachedSuper Bowl XLV following multiple early season struggles. This quote became so widely used to represent the Steelers organization that the team had it engraved on the locker room walls atHeinz Field in 2013.[86] Some of Tomlin's quotes are meant to inspire his team andfans such as "Don’t blink, if you’re a blinker, cut your eyelids off.",[87] "We don’t live in our fears,"[88] and "If our team doesn't face enough adversity early on in a season, I create it. Nothing builds a team like adversity."[89]
Some Tomlinisms are more eccentric than others. After a December 2020 win over theIndianapolis Colts, Tomlin stated "It's a fine line between drinking wine and squashing grapes."[90] After 2024's 13–6 victory over theDenver Broncos in Week 2, when asked about whether or not former Broncos quarterback and then current Steelers starterRussell Wilson was given the game ball from the victory, Tomlin replied "I can't give you all the ingredients to the hot dog, you might not like it."[91]
Tomlin is recognized for fostering strong relationships with his players, often being described as a "player's coach." This term reflects his ability to connect with athletes on a personal level, understanding their perspectives and motivations. Running backNajee Harris highlighted Tomlin's rapport with the team in a 2024 interview, noting, "It's not like that in other places."[92] Tomlin's approach involves open communication with the team and granting playersautonomy while maintaining discipline.[93] He has invited multiple players to spend holidays with him and his family.[94] In 2023,George Pickens andBroderick Jones celebratedThanksgiving with Tomlin.[95]
In the 2024 season of HBO'sHard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North, a candid interaction between Tomlin and cornerbackJoey Porter Jr. was captured in the debut episode. Following a game against theCincinnati Bengals in which Porter accumulated six penalties, Tomlin addressed his performance. He acknowledged Porter's potential, stating, "You're gonna be great, but you ain't gonna be great today," emphasizing the importance of growth and learning from mistakes.[96]
His approach has drawn criticism at times, notably when former Steelers quarterback and Hall of Fame memberTerry Bradshaw referred to him as "more of a cheerleader guy" than coach during a 2016 interview.[97] The 2018 season was plagued by locker room conflicts involving wide receiverAntonio Brown and running backLe’Veon Bell, highlighting discipline challenges under Tomlin's leadership. Bell's season-long holdout over a contract dispute created a major distraction and drew frustration from teammates.[98] Meanwhile, Brown's issues, including disputes with quarterbackBen Roethlisberger and skipping practices, culminated in his benching for the season finale and eventual off-season trade to theOakland Raiders.[99] Critics argued these incidents reflected a lack of accountability in Tomlin's player-friendly approach, despite his strengths in fostering camaraderie.
Defenders of Tomlin, however, point out that Tomlin tends to have a higher tolerance for such behavior than other coaches, and knows when to cut ties with a player. His near decade-long employment of the aforementioned Brown has often been cited as a prime example, as Brown would be released by the Raiders and Patriots in the following season after his departure (playing a combined one game between the two teams), then saw his NFL career come to an end when Brown abruptly walked out on his last NFL team (Tampa Bay, then coached by former Tomlin assistantBruce Arians) in the middle of a game.[100] The Steelers unexpected trade ofDiontae Johnson in 2024 also vindicated Tomlin's style, as Johnson would be traded or released from four more teams (including two of the Steelers division rivals) within the next year.[101]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| PIT | 2007 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toJacksonville Jaguars inAFC Wild Card Game |
| PIT | 2008 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC North | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XLIII champions |
| PIT | 2009 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 2010 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC North | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost toGreen Bay Packers inSuper Bowl XLV |
| PIT | 2011 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 2nd in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toDenver Broncos inAFC Wild Card Game |
| PIT | 2012 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3rd in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 2013 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 2014 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toBaltimore Ravens inAFC Wild Card Game |
| PIT | 2015 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 2nd in AFC North | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toDenver Broncos inAFC Divisional Game |
| PIT | 2016 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFC North | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost toNew England Patriots inAFC Championship Game |
| PIT | 2017 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toJacksonville Jaguars inAFC Divisional Game |
| PIT | 2018 | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 2nd in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 2019 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 2020 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toCleveland Browns inAFC Wild Card Game |
| PIT | 2021 | 9 | 7 | 1 | .559 | 2nd in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toKansas City Chiefs inAFC Wild Card Game |
| PIT | 2022 | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 3rd in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| PIT | 2023 | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 | 3rd in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toBuffalo Bills inAFC Wild Card Game |
| PIT | 2024 | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 | 2nd in AFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toBaltimore Ravens inAFC Wild Card Game |
| PIT | 2025 | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | TBD in AFC North | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 189 | 112 | 2 | .627 | 8 | 11 | .421 | |||
Tomlin met his wife, Kiya, while they were students atThe College of William & Mary. They have three children together and reside inSquirrel Hill.[102][103]
Tomlin is a Christian who attends aChristian and Missionary Alliance church.[104][105]
| International | |
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| National | |
