Mike Tomlin has stepped down as Pittsburg Steelers head coach

Mike Tomlin has stepped down as Pittsburg Steelers head coach, ending a 19-year run during which he never had a losing season.

Tomlin is not expected to coach elsewhere in 2026, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Steelers announced Tomlin’s decision Tuesday afternoon, saying his track record “will likely never be duplicated.”

Tomlin said in a statement that he decided to step down “after much thought and reflection.”

Tomlin, who has two years remaining on his contract, informed Steelers players of his decision to walk away at their 2 p.m. ET meeting Tuesday, one day after Pittsburgh was eliminated from the playoffs with a 30-6 loss to the Texans in the AFC wild-card round.

Tomlin, 53, leaves Pittsburgh with the unprecedented accomplishment of never having a losing season in nearly two decades at the helm of the franchise.

He clinched his 200th career NFL victory in Week 16 against the Lions and tied Chuck Noll for ninth with 193 regular-season wins in a Week 18 victory against the Ravens that clinched the AFC North title.

With Tomlin’s departure, the Steelers will begin the search for just their fourth head coach since 1969.

Tomlin signed an extension in 2024 that could’ve kept him with the team through the 2027 season, including a club option that had a decision date of March 1, 2026.

Because Tomlin resigned while still under contract, the Steelers will retain his coaching rights and could negotiate compensation if he returns to an NFL sideline before the end of the 2027 season.

Before his resignation, Tomlin was the longest-tenured head coach of a single North American professional sports franchise.

“It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin,” Rooney said in his statement. “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.

Tomlin ended his historic tenure in Pittsburgh with a frustrating nine-year postseason victory drought.

Despite winning a Super Bowl, two conference championships and seven division titles, Tomlin’s teams went a cumulative 8-12 in postseason play.