A major change is taking place in the AFC North. Mike Tomlin is stepping away from the Pittsburgh Steelers after nearly 20 years with the team.
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NFL insider Ian Rapoport broke the news on Tuesday, less than one day after the Steelers lost to the Texans 30-6 in a wild card playoff game. According to Rapoport, Tomlin informed the team that he plans to step away from coaching and take a break.
How long will this break last? That remains unknown. The Super Bowl-winning head coach will inevitably have offers to do TV during the 2026-27 season. He will also likely be a hot prospect based on his winning tenure with the Steelers.
Meanwhile, the Steelers will move forward and try to find what is their fourth coach since the 1969 season. They will join AFC North rivals the Browns and Steelers on the list of teams trying to find a new leader for the future.
Tomlin, the former defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings in 2006, took over as head coach of the Steelers at the start of the 2007 season. He replaced Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Cowher and faced some big expectations.
The Virginia native delivered this success early. He took over a team already boasting Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Heath Miller, and Santonio Holmes on offense, and he led them to a 10-6 record.
One season later, 2008, Tomlin led the team to a Super Bowl appearance. They faced off with the Cardinals and won the Lombardi Trophy after a back-and-forth affair. He then led the Steelers back to the Super Bowl in 2010, where the team lost to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.
Tomlin spent 19 years leading the Steelers, and he built a reputation for always remaining in contention for a playoff spot. The team never had a losing record, and it won at least 10 games in 12 separate seasons.
However, the postseason success did not remain after the trip to Super Bowl 45. The team made nine more playoff appearances after the 2010 season but only advanced beyond the divisional round one time. The Steelers lost to the Patriots in the AFC Championship in the 2016 season. The last five playoff trips have ended in the wild-card round.
"During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our Head Coach," Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a statement. "Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years.
"It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin. He guided the franchise to our sixth Super Bowl championship and made the playoffs 13 times during his tenure, including winning the AFC North eight times in his career. His track record of never having a losing season in 19 years will likely never be duplicated.
"My family and I, and everyone connected to Steelers management, are forever grateful for the passion and dedication Mike Tomlin has devoted to Steelers football."
