PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin informed the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday that he is stepping down as head coach, the team announced.
The announcement comes one day after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans, marking Tomlin’s seventh consecutive postseason defeat dating back to 2016.
“This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team,” Tomlin said in a statement. He also thanked Steelers ownership and fans, adding, “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.”
Team president Art Rooney II praised Tomlin’s impact on the organization. “Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years,” Rooney said. “It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin.”
The Steelers hired Tomlin in 2007, and he entered the 2025 NFL season as the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL and all of North American professional sports.
Tomlin won a Super Bowl in his second season as head coach, but postseason success proved more elusive in later years. He compiled a 5-11 record in his last 16 playoff games, and the Steelers have not advanced past the AFC Championship Game since the 2010 season.
At the time of his hiring, Tomlin was just 34 years old. He began his coaching career at the college level before serving as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach from 2001 to 2005. He then spent one season as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator in 2006.
Succeeding Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher, Tomlin went on to match and, in some areas, surpass his predecessor’s accomplishments. He is tied with Chuck Noll for the most wins in Steelers history, and his .628 winning percentage is the best in franchise history. Like Cowher, Tomlin won one Super Bowl and lost another during his tenure in Pittsburgh.
