Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the NFL. Tomlin is a terrific leader who has the respect of his peers, and his track record speaks for itself.
Tomlin is perhaps best known for never posting a losing record as an NFL head coach. Believe it or not, Tomlin is just the Steelers’ third head coach since 1969. Let’s examine Tomlin’s tenure, who preceded him, whether he’s won a Super Bowl, and more.
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin is the Epitome of Consistency
No matter who’s on the roster, how many players get injured, or what the division looks like, Tomlin is going to have his team ready to play, and they’ll win more games than not.
As previously mentioned, Tomlin has never had a losing season since becoming a head coach. He holds the NFL record for most consecutive non-losing seasons to begin an NFL coaching career. Tomlin’s worst seasons were in 2012, 2013, and 2019, when his teams finished 8-8 during a 16-game schedule.
For comparison, fellow legendary Steelers head coaches Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher both posted losing seasons. Noll had five sub-.500 seasons, including his disappointing 1-13 debut in 1969 and a 7-9 final season in 1991. Cowher had three losing campaigns, including a pair of 6-10 marks in 1999 and 2003.
Who Was the Head Coach of the Steelers Before Tomlin?
The head coach of the Steelers before Tomlin was the NFL coaching legend Cowher, who was the head coach from 1992 to 2006.
Cowher’s record as the team’s head coach was 149-90-1 during that time, making him the second-most successful head coach in Steelers history behind only Tomlin.
In 15 seasons under Cowher’s leadership, the Steelers won eight division titles, made 10 playoff appearances, played in six AFC Championship Games, and advanced to two Super Bowls.
After winning his first Super Bowl ring in 2006 by defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 40, Cowher resigned and was replaced by Tomlin. In 2020, Cowher was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
What Is Tomlin’s Record With the Steelers?
Since becoming the Steelers head coach on Jan. 27, 2000, Tomlin has led the team to a 181-102 record in the regular season.
He is the winningest coach in franchise history, which is impressive given the Steelers’ storied past.
Tomlin is 8-10 in the postseason as a head coach, giving him a .444 winning percentage in the NFL playoffs.
Has Tomlin Ever Won a Super Bowl?
Tomlin has two Super Bowl championships under his belt: one as an assistant coach and one as a head coach. His title as an assistant came in Super Bowl 37 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach, while his ring as the Steelers’ head coach came in 2009.
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Pittsburgh faced off against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl 43 and ultimately defeated them, 27-23. Unlike Tomlin’s first Super Bowl victory, this game was close throughout.
The Steelers took the lead for good with less than a minute remaining following a Santonio Holmes touchdown reception. Holmes took home the Super Bowl MVP trophy after catching nine passes for 131 yards and the game-winning score.
No. 6: Santonio Holmes’ game-winning catch in @SuperBowl XLIII (Feb. 1, 2009) @Steelers #NFL100
📺: NFL 100 Greatest Plays on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/kKLilIDgpb
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2019
The win gave Pittsburgh the most Super Bowls of any NFL franchise at that time.
Tomlin also led the Steelers to Super Bowl 45 on Feb. 6, 2011, but they came up short against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, 31-25.
Tomlin has led the Steelers to 11 playoff appearances, seven division titles, five Divisional Rounds, three AFC Championship Games, and two Super Bowls.
However, since 2018, the Steelers have made the playoffs just three times and have yet to advance past the Wild Card round, losing in 2020, 2021, and 2023. Their most recent playoff appearance was a 31-17 Wild Card loss to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in 2023.