At a Glance
- Mike Tomlin is stepping down after 19 seasons as Steelers head coach
- He never posted a losing record and won Super Bowl XLIII
- Pittsburgh lost seven straight playoff games since 2016
- Why it matters: The Steelers, famous for coaching stability, now face their first vacancy since 2007
Mike Tomlin’s 19-year run with the Pittsburgh Steelers ended Tuesday when he informed team president Art Rooney II that he is leaving the only NFL head-coaching job he has ever held.
The announcement came roughly 24 hours after a 30-6 wild-card defeat to the Houston Texans closed Pittsburgh’s 2025 season. Tomlin, hired in 2007, exits without ever suffering a sub-.500 campaign.
Rooney Thanks Tomlin for Two-Decade Run
“During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our head coach,” Rooney said in a statement distributed by the club. “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.”
Rooney added that the organization “is forever grateful for the passion and dedication Mike Tomlin has devoted to Steelers football.”
By the Numbers
Tomlin’s résumé stacks up as follows:
- 193-114-2 regular-season record
- 8-12 postseason mark
- 1 Super Bowl title (XLIII)
- 1 additional Super Bowl appearance
- 13 playoff berths
- 8 AFC North crowns
The streak of non-losing seasons stretches across nearly two decades, a feat the Steelers believe may stand unmatched. Pittsburgh reached the playoffs in five of the past six years but has not won a postseason contest since the 2016 AFC Championship Game. The club has dropped seven consecutive playoff games, the last five by double-digit margins-an NFL first.
2025 Season Ends on Last-Second Kick
This year’s squad squeezed into the tournament behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers. A Week 18 victory over Baltimore clinched the AFC North when rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed wide right on the final play, sealing a 26-24 Steelers win. That dramatic margin sent Pittsburgh to the playoffs but could not prevent another early exit.
Tomlin leaves with two years left on his contract, allowing the Steelers to retain his coaching rights and receive compensation should he take another NFL job.
Steelers Join Crowded Coaching Market
Pittsburgh now becomes the ninth franchise with a head-coaching opening, alongside:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- New York Giants
- Tennessee Titans
- Atlanta Falcons
- Arizona Cardinals
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Miami Dolphins
The Steelers have employed only three head coaches since 1969: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin. That 56-year span of stability makes the current vacancy a rare event in franchise history.
Key Takeaways
- Tomlin’s departure ends the longest active streak of consecutive seasons without a losing record among NFL head coaches
- Pittsburgh’s seven-game playoff losing skid is the longest active drought in the league
- The Steelers’ next hire will inherit a roster that reached the postseason but faces questions on both sides of the ball
- Ownership must balance continuity with the need to reclaim postseason success that has eluded the franchise for nearly a decade
