Rumored to be on the Steelers’ extension radar this year, Mike Tomlin looks like he will remain tied to his current deal through 2024. The Steelers are not planning to extend their coach this year, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes.
This will not turn Tomlin into a lame duck, however, as his deal runs through the ’24 season. The Steelers should be expected to extend their longtime head coach at that point, with Dulac adding the team fully expects to have Tomlin in place as HC beyond his current contract. Tomlin, 51, is going into his 17th season as the team’s head coach.
Now the second-longest-tenured HC in Steelers history (having passed Bill Cowher last season), Tomlin is not believed to have generated dissatisfaction among Steelers brass, Dulac adds. GM Omar Khan, noting an extension is not his call, said (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor) he expects to be aligned with the veteran coach “for a long time.”
“I’m at the stage of my career where I don’t care about contracts,” Tomlin said. “I acknowledge I’ve seen more days than I’m going to see. That’s just the nature of this thing. I’m appreciative of the opportunity. I’m singularly focused. I’m thankful I’m at the stage of my life and my career that it’s a non-issue for me.”
Tomlin’s current deal pays him around $10MM per year, according to Dulac. He has signed six Steelers extensions since 2010. Not all have been for the same duration, with two-year re-ups transpiring in 2015 and 2017 and a one-year bump coming in 2019. In April 2021, Tomlin signed a three-year deal. That contract agreement came when two years remained on Tomlin’s previous deal, so it is somewhat interesting the team is not following suit this time around. Only Bill Belichick has been in place in his current HC post longer than the Steelers leader.
Having guided the Steelers to a Super Bowl title and another Super Bowl berth two years later, Tomlin has matched Cowher’s output in that department. Tomlin, however, has not led the Steelers to a playoff win since 2016. This stretch included home losses to the Jaguars (2017) and Browns (2020). The defensive-minded HC’s streak of zero sub-.500 seasons remains intact, after the team rallied from a 2-6 mark to finish 9-8. Over his career, Tomlin has a 163-93-2 record. That win total sits 16th in NFL history. Another contract will put Tomlin in position to climb into the top 10. Dan Reeves currently sits 10th with 190 victories.
The Steelers famously show commitment to their head coaches, having employed just three since the 1969 season. Four-time Super Bowl winner Chuck Noll occupied the biggest time chunk here, serving in the top Pittsburgh coaching job for 23 years.
1st ballot HoF’er.
two conference championships in 16 years is not 1st ballot material
More worthy of Canton than the HC from the Foxboro Cheatriots.
Never under .500 once in his career. Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, John Madden, Curly Lambeu, George Halas ALL HOF coaches with = or less SB wins & conference champ games. Carry on.
Tenure and win-loss record are good enough to make up the difference. Two appearances in the championship is also better than most coaches. I don’t know if he will end up being first ballot as it stands today, but I certainly wouldn’t be shocked. I would, however, be shocked if the Steelers do not extend Tomlin after this deal, even if he has his first ever losing season.
I’d give Mike the HOF nod just for being able to manage the egos of players like Big Ben, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell and James Harrison. You need a capable, calming influence in charge with a cast of characters like that and Tomlin provided that leadership consistently.
Did better than Cowher.
This isn’t an attack on the subject but an honest assessment.
But I think without another SB appearance or win he makes it in barely assuming several more years of moderate success. Being a minority coach I believe could impact votes.
Coaches with similar accomplishments are Mike Holmgren, Sean Payton, and even Mike Shanahan.
it’s almost as if he’s allergic to playoff wins
dude lost to both Baker and Tebow .. pathetic
been a while since cowher culture got him a chip
despite being a “secondary specialist” Steelers have failed to develop a single guy in their secondary… every single secondary starter during his era came from trades/free agency
I call that a red flag
guy won the lottery getting the steelers gig
If Rooneys weren’t pressured to apply their own rule, Ken Wisenhunt (their first choice) would be still be HC and HOF bound , and Tomlin would’ve been the guy washed out after a year or 2 somewhere else.
FOs matter a lot more than coaching skill (or lack there of) as seen with a guy with almost no coaching skill likely headed to HOF.
look at how crap the Patriots have become despite having an excellent head coach (Bill Belichick) , they are struggling because of terrible GM (Bill Belichick)
I think the point is give Bill or Andy R. a franchise QB, theyre gonna dominate .
Give MT a franchise QB , and lose 1st round, while consistently blowing regular season games to the absolute worst teams because Mike still hasn’t figured out that 2-6 teams doesn’t mean bye week
Also lost to Blake Bortles
ya it’s just been overall pathetic.
I’ll cheer for him. he’s our guy for now.
but would prefer a head coach that actually adds value to the team.
we’ve all had dumb bosses tho.
I’m sure there’s plenty of unsung heroes in the steelers org that know Mike T is a fraud
Love Tomlin, he is an incredible leader.
The Steelers’ need to do better than .500 this season. The transition from Roethlisberger to Kenny is a process, cannot expect Kenny to be a superstar his rookie year. But the Matt Canada offense has been lackluster imo, if they fall below .500 this season (which I honestly think is the year) then a new OC will be joining the Steelers’ for the 24′ season. If a new OC doesn’t give them a spark next season, then the Great Coach Tomlin may be looking for a new team.
Good coach but Pittsburgh always plays down to terrible opponents.
that makes him the opposite of a great coach
Still never had a losing season. I think everyone in the org is just complacent at this point in time
Bunch of dudes in Heath Miller jerseys will be crying into their red hats when Tomlin gets extended.
Never having a losing season doesn’t impress them because the Steelers being successful is predetermined by divine ordinance and they ONLY lose BECAUSE of Tomlin…evidently.
maybe step outside your bubble from time to time
maybe you’ll realize that you’ve been the racist all along….
Exactly.
It’s definitely me and not the dudes in Heath Miller jerseys who call Tomlin the N word after every loss…and most wins…who has been the racist all along.
Clearly, right?
I’m so very racist for noticing their words and deeds. I’ve got to work on that.
I think not finishing below .500 is more of a nod towards upper management than to Tomlin. They always draft well and sign good FA’s to give Tomlin what he needs to succeed. Could be said that Tomlin underachieves a bit?
He finished above .500 last year with the 4th worst rated quarterback in the league. That’s quite an accomplishment. That hardly ever happens, especially lately. You’re usually as good as your quarterback play