Steelers coach Mike Tomlin addresses future, retirement ahead of season

Let’s get this out of the way first. Mike Tomlin has no plans to retire from the Steelers anytime soon. However, he did put some parameters on the age in which he’ll stop coaching.

Judy Battista, a reporter with the NFL Network, interviewed Tomlin Saturday after the Steelers finished their Saturday practice in Latrobe, Pa. She noted that Tomlin starts his 17th season, he’s yet to experience a losing record.

Are you going to do another 17?

“I probably have seen more days than I’m gonna see,” Mike Tomlin said. “I’m just trying to be realistic.”

Battista then asked “are you making an announcement now?”

And Tomlin replied “I’m probably not going to do 34.” So we now know that Tomlin doesn’t plan on coaching past social security retirement age.

Always great to see Mike Tomlin. The @steelers coach on what he likes so far, trying for more explosiveness, what they need QB Kenny Pickett to be, Patrick Peterson, and Tomlin's own future. pic.twitter.com/0FywmPoMlA

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) July 29, 2023

Steelers probably won’t start negotiating Mike Tomlin’s contract until next year

Tomlin’s contract has been a topic this week as the Steelers opened training camp. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Steelers don’t plan on extending his contract this season. However, the report said he shouldn’t worry about his job security.

Typically, Pittsburgh has started contract negotiations with Tomlin before the final year of his contract. The 51-year-old Tomlin earns about $10 million a year on a deal he signed in 2021. His current deal expires at the end of the 2024 season. The Post-Gazette, quoting a source close to the team, said that Steeler management “fully expects” that Tomlin will be with the team beyond 2024.

Earlier this week, reporters asked Tomlin about his contract situation. He offered a similar response.

“I’m at the stage of my career where I don’t care about contracts,” Mike Tomlin said. “I acknowledge I’ve seen more days than I’m going to see. That’s just the nature of this thing. I’m appreciative of the opportunity. I’m singularly focused. I’m thankful I’m at the stage of my life and my career that it’s a non-issue for me.”

The Steelers, using rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, finished 9-8 last season. But they missed the playoffs for only the sixth time in the Mike Tomlin era. He’s won 163 games with the Steelers. That ranks him third for total victories among active coaches. Bill Belichick (298) and Andy Reid (247) are the only two active coaches with more victories.

But Tomlin is trying to rid the team of a nagging anchor. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since 2016. That’s the longest playoff drought since the early 1970s.