Mike Tomlin has stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 seasons with the team.
Steelers President Art Rooney II said Tomlin informed him of the decision during a meeting Thursday.
“Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years,” Rooney said. “It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin.”
The Steelers hired Tomlin in 2007 when he was 34 years old. He had served as Tampa Bay’s defensive backs coach from 2001 to 2005 and spent one year as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator in 2006.
In the 2008 season, Tomlin led Pittsburgh to a Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Arizona Cardinals, the franchise’s sixth championship.
Tomlin’s regular-season record was 193-114-2. He never finished a season with a losing record, making him the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL entering the 2025 season. He guided the Steelers to 13 playoff appearances and won the AFC North eight times.
The Steelers have not advanced past the AFC championship game since the 2010 season. Tomlin’s record in his last 16 playoff games was 5-11.
Pittsburgh’s season ended Monday with a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the playoffs. The defeat was Tomlin’s seventh consecutive postseason loss, a streak dating back to 2016.
“While this chapter comes to a close, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change,” Tomlin said in a statement. “I am excited for what the future holds for this organization, and I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.”
Tomlin had two years remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2024. The club held an option for 2027.
The Steelers will conduct their first head coaching search since 2007.