Mike Tomlin career timeline: Record, contract, and more for long-time Steelers coach

Gilbert McGregor

Mike Tomlin career timeline: Record, contract, and more for long-time Steelers coach image

Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Across all sports, few head coaches are as synonymous with their team as Mike Tomlin is with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tomlin, 52, stands alone as the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL and is one of the longest-tenured head coaches in North American professional sports. This season is Tomlin's 18th on the sideline in Pittsburgh, a span in which he has outlasted a number of ways the game and league have changed.

One of the most impressive parts of Tomlin's tenure is that he has almost seamlessly upheld a standard of excellence established by the Steelers, one of the most respected franchises in sports lore.

Here's everything to know about Tomlin's history in the Steel City.

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Mike Tomlin teams coached

Tomlin's job as the Steelers head coach is the only head coaching job of his coaching career, which began in 1995. After spending six seasons coaching in college, Tomlin joined the Buccaneers as a defensive backs coach in 2001. He served in the role until 2006, when he became the defensive coordinator of the Vikings.

The Steelers hired Tomlin on Jan. 27, 2007. Pittsburgh is one of just three NFL franchises that Tomlin has worked for in his career.

Tomlin is the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL and the 16th head coach in Pittsburgh franchise history.

Longest-tenured NFL head coaches

RankCoachTeamHired
1.Mike TomlinPittsburgh Steelers2007
2.John HarbaughBaltimore Ravens2008
3.Andy ReidKansas City Chiefs2013
4.Sean McDermottBuffalo Bills2017
 Sean McVayLos Angeles Rams2017
 Kyle ShanahanSan Francisco 49ers2017

MORE: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings | Week 5 NFL picks | Week 5 NFL picks against the spread

Who coached the Steelers before Mike Tomlin?

Bill Cowher coached the Steelers before Mike Tomlin.

In 1992, Cowher was hired as the 15th head coach in Steelers franchise history. Cowher posted a 161-99-1 overall record as Pittsburgh's head coach, leading the franchise to a victory in Super Bowl 40.

Cowher resigned after the Steelers went 8-8 during the 2006 season, just one year removed from their Super Bowl win. Since leaving coaching in 2007, Cowher has been an analyst on CBS' NFL studio coverage.

Mike Tomlin coaching timeline

After a four-year playing career at William and Mary, Tomlin began his coaching career as a wide receivers coach at VMI.

Tomlin's time in the college ranks included stops at Memphis, Arkansas State and Cincinnati before he joined Tony Dungy's staff as an defensive backs coach for the Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl with head coach Jon Gruden leading he way.

After five seasons in Tampa, Tomlin was hired as defensive coordinator for the Vikings, a job he held for one season before leaving for Pittsburgh.

Year(s)TeamPosition(s)
1995Virginia Military InstituteWide receivers
1996MemphisGraduate assistant
1997-98Arkansas StateWide receivers, Defensive backs
1999-2000CincinnatiDefensive backs
2001-05Tampa Bay BuccaneersDefensive backs
2006Minnesota VikingsDefensive coordinator
2007-PresentPittsburgh SteelersHead coach

Mike Tomlin coaching record

Tomlin has a coaching record of 176-101-2 in the regular season and 8-10 in the playoffs. Under Tomlin, the Steelers have made 11 playoff appearances, won seven AFC North titles and advanced to two Super Bowls, winning in Super Bowl 43.

Most notably, Tomlin has never posted a losing season as head coach. The Steelers have finished with an 8-8 record three times but have never finished below .500 during the Tomlin era.

He is 15 wins away from entering the top 10 in career coaching wins.

SeasonRecordPostseason RecordFinish
200710-60-1Lost in Wild Card Game
200812-43-0Won Super Bowl 43
20099-7Missed playoffs
201012-42-1Lost in Super Bowl 45
201112-40-1Lost in Wild Card Game
20128-8Missed playoffs
20138-8Missed playoffs
201411-50-1Lost in Wild Card Game
201510-61-1Lost in Divisional Round
201611-52-1Lost in AFC Championship
201713-30-1Lost in Divisional Round
20189-6-1Missed playoffs
20198-8Missed playoffs
202012-40-1Lost in Wild Card Game
20219-7-10-1Lost in Wild Card Game
20229-8Missed playoffs
202310-70-1Lost in Wild Card Game
20243-1
Career176-101-28-10 

Mike Tomlin contract

Barring some type of pivot, Tomlin's time as head coach of the Steelers won't be ending any time soon. In June, Tomlin and the Steelers agreed to a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.

As with most head coach contracts, specific figures were not disclosed but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport suggested that Tomlin is one of the highest-paid coaches in NFL history.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.