On Tuesday, January 13, Mike Tomlin’s long tenure in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers came to an end after 19 seasons, with the coach’s resignation. This came after the Steelers lost their NFL Wild Card game to the Houston Texans by a heavy margin of 6-30.
With 19 seasons, Tomlin was the longest-tenured coach in the NFL, and the only one to have been in charge of an NFL franchise since the late 2000s. The Baltimore Ravens also sacked John Harbaugh after 18 seasons.
The longest-tenured coach in the NFL is now Kansas City’s Andy Reid, who has been in charge of the team since 2013. It’s safe to say that it has been a successful stint, bringing in three Super Bowls, five AFC championships, and nine AFC West divisional titles.
The second spot is a three-way tie between Buffalo’s Sean McDermott, Los Angeles’ Sean McVay, and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan. All of them were hired in 2017 and have been in charge of their teams for nine seasons. McVay’s stint with the Rams has been by far the most successful of the bunch. He is the only coach in this group to win a Super Bowl title. The Rams have also won two NFC championships and four NFC West divisional titles.
The No. 3 spot is a two-way tie between Cincinnati’s Zac Taylor and Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur, who were hired in 2019. Taylor’s tenure in charge of the Bengals has been slightly more successful, having won one AFC championship and thus making a Super Bowl appearance. They also won two AFC North divisional titles. LaFleur has won three NFC North titles.
Mike Tomlin’s Final Words to Steelers Fans
On Tuesday afternoon, Mike Tomlin released the following statement, announcing his decision to resign from the Pittsburgh Steelers:
“This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team. I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day, and to the coaches and staff whose commitment and dedication made this journey so meaningful.”
“I want to also thank Steelers Nation. Your passion, loyalty, and high expectations represent what makes this franchise truly special. Coaching in Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else, and I will always take great pride in having been a steward of this team,” he added.
His resignation means that the Steelers retain compensation rights, which they can negotiate with whichever team he joins. Mike Tomlin was hired through 2027, although the team had to decide on an option for the final year in March 2026.
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