Pittsburgh Steelers sign coach Mike Tomlin to three-year extension

After some hemming and hawing last season about Mike Tomlin‘s tenure in Pittsburgh, the Steelers are officially re-upping on the Super Bowl-winning head coach. The organization announced on Monday that they’ve agreed to a three-year contract extension for Tomlin ahead of what will be his 18th season at the helm.

“Mike Tomlin’s leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said in the team’s news release. “Extending his contract for three more years reflects our confidence in his ability to guide the team back to winning playoff games and championships, while continuing our tradition of success.”

Tomlin, currently the longest-tenured head coach in the league, has a 63.3% win percentage in regular season games. He led the team to a victory in Super Bowl XLIII and his playoff record is now 8-10.

“I am appreciative for this contract extension and thankful for Art Rooney II for his support during my first 17 years in Pittsburgh,” Tomlin said. “We are continuing to work diligently to get back to where we belong – sustained playoff success with the ultimate goal of winning the franchise’s seventh Lombardi Trophy.

“I am very excited to get the 2024 season underway and provide our fans with a memorable year.”

Steelers commit to three more seasons with Tomlin

Under Tomlin’s stewardship, the Steelers have never had a losing season. With 17 seasons of .500-or-better records, his streak is the third-longest in NFL history.

In the head coach’s 18th season, he’ll be deciding between two former starting quarterbacks to lead his team. After ending 2023 with a first-round exit in the playoffs, the team acquired Russell Wilson from the Broncos, then added Justin Fields from the Bears.

Without an extension, the 2024 season would have been the final year of Tomlin’s contract. Now, he’s secure through the 2027 season. Still, the Steelers would need to keep him for three more seasons after this contract expires to match coaching legend Bill Belichick’s tenure with the New England Patriots.

Throughout his career as the Steelers head coach, Tomlin has coached players to close to 80 NFL Pro Bowl nominations. His 173 regular season wins are currently second-most among active NFL head coaches. Only Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has more regular-season victories.

When Tomlin took the Steelers to the Super Bowl against the Cardinals, he became the youngest head coach in the NFL to both coach and win the championship game. He was just shy of his 37th birthday. Sean McVay surpassed him two years ago with the Rams’ appearance in Super Bowl LVI.