Steelers sign coach Mike Tomlin to 3-year extension through 2027 season

Mike Tomlin’s contract will remain an issue no longer.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Tomlin agreed Monday to a three-year extension that will keep the head coach with the organization through the 2027 season.

Tomlin, 52, is entering his 18th season with the Steelers. He has taken the franchise to two Super Bowls, winning it after the 2008 season. His playoff record, however, has come under scrutiny, and the Steelers haven’t won a postseason game since the 2016 season.

In 17 seasons, Tomlin has a 173-100-2 record as a head coach. Since 2007, when he was hired to replace Hall of Fame coach Bill Cowher, that record ranks third behind contemporaries Bill Belichick and Andy Reid.

He became the longest-tenured coach with one team when Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways after the 2023 season. Tomlin also has coached the Steelers longer than anyone aside from Chuck Noll, who guided the franchise for 23 seasons.

“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 a statement. “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 was entering the final year of a three-year extension. Rooney had a chance to renew Tomlin’s deal when he had two years remaining, which he has done in the past. But after the 2022 season, Rooney elected to wait another year before offering the extension.

In January, after the Steelers lost a wild-card playoff game at Buffalo, Rooney said he remained committed to keeping Tomlin as head coach.

“I think the players still respond to Mike,” Rooney said. “That’s No. 1. He still has the key characteristics that we saw when we hired him. He can keep the attention of a group of 20-year-olds for a whole season, keep them in the fight the whole way. Still feel good about Mike. Obviously if I didn’t, we’d make a change. I think if Mike wasn’t able to lead us to a championship, he wouldn’t be here. That’s why he’s here.”

Tomlin’s .633 winning percentage is eighth on the all-time list and third among active coaches, again trailing Belichick and Reid.

Although Tomlin never had a losing season as head coach, his playoff record is 8-10 with losses in his past five postseason games.

The 17 consecutive non-losing seasons is an NFL record for a head coach at the beginning of his career and is the third-longest stretch in league history.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

The Steelers begin mandatory minicamp Tuesday, then take a break until training camp begins in late July at Saint Vincent College in Unity Township.