Mike Tomlin has stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, ending a 19-year tenure during which he never had a losing season. Tomlin informed the organization of his decision on Tuesday, one day after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card round. The separation was confirmed by both Tomlin and the team.
Tomlin, 53, had signed a contract extension following the 2023 season that was set to run through 2027, though the Steelers would have faced a decision by March 1 on whether to exercise a team option beyond 2026. Rather than reaching that point, Tomlin chose to step away on his own terms. Because he resigned while still under contract, Pittsburgh will retain his coaching rights and could negotiate compensation if he decides to return to coaching with another NFL team before the deal expires.
Hired on Jan. 22, 2007, Tomlin was a somewhat unexpected choice at the time, replacing Bill Cowher at just 34 years old. Two seasons later, he led the Steelers to a win in Super Bowl XLIII, becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Lombardi Trophy at age 36. He returned to the Super Bowl the following year but lost to the Green Bay Packers and never made another appearance in the championship game during his last 15 seasons.
Over nearly two decades, Tomlin evolved from the league’s youngest head coach to its longest-tenured. He compiled a 193-114-2 regular-season record, tying Hall of Famer Chuck Noll’s franchise mark for wins while doing so in 33 fewer games. Tomlin ranks ninth on the NFL’s all-time wins list, owns a .628 career winning percentage, and led Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 13 of his 19 seasons, winning eight AFC North titles.
Despite his consistency and widespread respect throughout the league, Tomlin’s later years were marked by postseason frustration. His playoff record stands at 8-12, and Monday’s loss to Houston was his seventh consecutive postseason loss, tying Marvin Lewis for the longest playoff losing streak in NFL history. Offensive instability following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement in 2022, including the failed development of first-round pick Kenny Pickett, contributed to the team’s struggles in recent seasons.
Tomlin leaves Pittsburgh with an unprecedented legacy, defined by sustained competitiveness and organizational stability. He reached his 200th career NFL win late this season and finished tied with Noll for the most regular-season victories in franchise history. With his departure, the Steelers will begin the search for just their fourth head coach since 1969, marking the end of one of the most consistent coaching runs in modern NFL history.
Statement from Mike Tomlin: pic.twitter.com/66O3ktES2m
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 13, 2026
