Mike Tomlin coaching record: How Steelers head coach avoided a losing season for 15 years in NFL

The Steelers didn't get the miracle they needed to make the playoffs, but what Pittsburgh accomplished in the second half of the season to get over. 500 was nothing short of one.

After a dreadful start to the season, the Steelers committed to rookie QB Kenny Pickett and closed the season going 7-2 in their final nine games. 

When all was said and done, Pittsburgh finished the season 9-8 and just outside of playoff contention.

They wrapped up the season with back-to-back 4th quarter comeback wins over the Raiders and Ravens in Week 16 and Week 17, respectively. 

Perhaps not making the playoffs will sting for Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin a little less after he led the Steelers to 16-straight winning seasons, a feat that seemed destined to be broken and improbably accomplished.

Yet, the 2022 season concludes an Tomlin once again has a .500 or better record.

Here's a closer look at the streak Tomlin and the Steelers are trying to keep intact over the final three games of the season:

Mike Tomlin coaching record

Here's a breakdown of each of Tomlin's 16 seasons at the helm in Pittsburgh.

Has Mike Tomlin ever had a losing season?

In more than 16 years as an NFL head coach, Tomlin has never finished a season below .500. He has finished at .500 three times, in 2012, 2013 and 2019. In each of his other 12 full seasons, Tomlin has a winning record. He has also made the playoffs 10 times in his career.

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Keeping the streak intact is something that motivated players to keep fighting as they closed out the year. 

"It's real important to us," wide receiver Diontae Johnson said. "Obviously he's been having winning seasons pretty much every year. We want to finish out strong for him and us, as well."

“It’s really important to us… We want to finish out strong for him."

After the @Steelers 24-16 win in Carolina, Diontae Johnson talked about Mike Tomlin’s 15 year streak of seasons with a record of .500 better.

🎤 @AJRoss_TV pic.twitter.com/4Nw9TcEjVd

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 18, 2022

"I take pride in it. I don’t want to be on that team that snaps that streak," safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "I know coach Tomlin takes a lot of pride in what he does. I take a lot of pride in what I do. So if I can do anything I can to keep that streak alive, that’s what I am going to do."

Tomlin, on the other hand, has downplayed the significance of the streak. 

"Our agenda this year is to get into a single-elimination tournament and then pit our skills against others in that single-elimination tournament in an effort to win the world championship," he said, per CBS Sports. "That's our mentality every year."

When was the last time the Steelers had a losing season?

Even before Tomlin arrived, you have to go further back to find the last time Pittsburgh finished below .500. That would be in 2003, under Bill Cowher.

That means the franchise has gone 18 full seasons without a losing record — the third-longest streak of its kind in NFL history. The only two organizations to put together longer streaks without a losing season are the Patriots (19 seasons, from 2001-19) and the Cowboys (20 seasons, 1966-85). 

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Cowher, Tomlin's predecessor, had only three losing seasons in his 15 years at the helm. Chuck Noll, Cowher's predecessor, had seven in his 23 years in charge. Clearly, the franchise has had incredible leaders through the years, as that kind of stability is extraordinarily difficult to come by in the NFL.

The team is looking to keep both streaks intact by winning its last four games. It would be quite the feat, but it would be wise not to bet against Tomlin pulling it off.

Longest tenured active head coaches

Mike Tomlin is the second-longest tenured active head coach in the NFL, behind only Bill Belichick.

All-time NFL head coach winning percentage

Tomlin is in 22nd place in the rankings for all-time head coach winning percentage. 

* Bold denotes current NFL head coaches