A historic run in Pittsburgh is finally over.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has stepped down as the team’s head coach, the team announced Tuesday, one day after a first-round playoff home loss to the Texans on Monday night extended the franchise’s drought to nine years without a postseason win.
Tomlin, 53, never produced a losing season in 19 years and won a Super Bowl during the 2008 season, but the franchise has lost seven straight playoff games since its last postseason win in 2017.
Monday’s 30-6 loss to Houston marked the fifth-straight loss by at least 10 points.
“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 released by the team.
“Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years.”
Tomlin told the team of his decision during his 2 p.m. meeting Tuesday, per ESPN, and is stepping away with two years left on his contract.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported before Monday’s game that a source close to Tomlin did not rule out the possibility of him stepping down.
Now that it’s official, it’s uncertain whether he this means he will take the upcoming year off, transition to a media gig or look to join another team, although the Steelers still retain his right.
Should he still have the coaching itch, he would join John Harbaugh as the top candidate in this year’s coaching cycle and move to the top of the list for the Giants and others.
There are now nine jobs open, with the Steelers joining the Giants, Falcons, Cardinals, Titans, Ravens, Browns, Raiders and Dolphins.
If Tomlin wants to take a year off, ESPN’s Peter Schrager said earlier this year there’s a “chair waiting” either in a broadcast booth or on a pregame/postgame show.
He did not answer a question about his future Monday night.
“I’m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight,” Tomlin said. “I’m more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium and certainly what we did and didn’t do. Not a big-picture mentality as I sit here tonight.”
Tomlin exiting his position comes after yet another disappointing playoff flop.
While Tomlin has shown his coaching chops by never finishing with a losing season, questions emerged about the team’s direction under his guidance.
The Steelers are one of the NFL’s premier franchises, but they haven’t been true AFC or Super Bowl contenders since the 2020 season.
Pittsburgh has finished with nine or 10 wins in each of the last five seasons, and with at least eight wins in seven of the last eight campaigns.
The franchise is also in a horrible playoff rut, having lost six straight games since losing the Patriots in the AFC Championship game during the 2016 season.
Monday’s loss to the Texans marked the third time in this stretch Pittsburgh has lost at home in the playoffs, joining previous setbacks to the rival Browns and Jaguars.
The last five postseason losses have all come by at least 10 poitns.
The nine-year drought and inability to produce elite regular seasons raised questions about whether the franchise had become stale, particularly on offense.
The franchise struggled to find a solid quarterback until 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers joined the franchise this year, but even he may be a one-year stopgap.
Tomlin owned a 193-114-2 record in the regular season and an 8-12 playoff record while guiding his team to the playoffs in 13 of 19 seasons.
The Steelers bested the Cardinals to win their sixth Super Bowl during the 2008 season, his second campaign after replacing Hall of Famer Bill Cowher.
Tomlin led the franchise back to the Super Bowl two seasons later, where they fell to Rodgers and the Packers.
Pittsburgh is just 3-10 in the playoffs since then, though, with just one conference championship appearance.
His 193 regular-season wins are tied for the ninth-most in NFL history.
“It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for coach Tomlin,” Rooney said. “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.”
