The Pittsburgh Steelers are kicking off 2026 with the tip of an period.
The Associated Press reported that Mike Tomlin introduced Tuesday that he’s stepping down as head coach after practically twenty years with the franchise. During his tenure, Tomlin led the group to outstanding success, incomes a Super Bowl title, two convention championships and eight division titles, per ESPN.
At 53, Tomlin is the longest-tenured head coach in main American skilled sports activities. His departure leaves the Steelers trying to find the group’s fourth head coach since 1969 — an intimidating job for a franchise that acknowledged in an announcement that Tomlin’s observe document “will possible by no means be duplicated.”
Tomlin signed a contract extension in 2024 that may have saved him with the group by means of the 2027 season, together with a membership possibility with a March 1 resolution deadline. The 53-year-old shouldn’t be anticipated to teach anyplace else in 2026.
Here’s extra on Tomlin’s departure and a better take a look at his web price.
Tomlin stated his resolution to depart the group required ‘a lot thought and reflection’
Tomlin let Steelers gamers know of his resolution to stroll away from the group at their 2 p.m. ET assembly on Tuesday. His announcement got here a day after the Steelers had been eradicated from the playoffs, dropping to the Houston Texans 30-6 within the AFC wild-card spherical.
In an announcement, Tomlin defined his resolution to depart the group wasn’t simple and required “a lot thought and reflection.”
“This group has been an enormous a part of my life for a few years, and it has been an absolute honor to steer this group,” he stated. “I’m deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for his or her belief and assist. I’m additionally grateful to the gamers who gave all the pieces they’d on daily basis, and to the coaches and workers whose dedication and dedication made this journey so significant.”
He added, “I need to additionally thank Steelers Nation. Your ardour, loyalty, and excessive expectations signify what makes this franchise really particular. Coaching in Pittsburgh is in contrast to anyplace else, and I’ll all the time take nice pleasure in having been a steward of this group.”
Rooney — who’s served because the Steelers’ group president since 2003 — expressed his “respect and appreciation” for Tomlin, highlighting the coach’s extraordinary legacy with the franchise, together with by no means having a dropping season in practically 20 years.
“Obviously, I’m extraordinarily grateful to Mike for all of the arduous work, dedication and success we’ve got shared during the last 19 years,” ESPN reported he stated.
Steelers gamers echoed comparable adoration. Tight finish Pat Freiermuth described Tomlin as “among the finest coaches I’ll ever play for, in all probability one of the best. In my opinion his message hasn’t obtained stale. I imagine in him.”
As Tomlin had two years remaining on his contract extension, if he opts to return to teaching within the NFL earlier than his contract is up, the franchise might search compensation.
Tomlin’s web price is $40 million as of January 2026
But Tomlin doesn’t have to rush again to the soccer area. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the soccer coach has a web price of $40 million.
When Tomlin joined the franchise in 2007, he signed a $10 million contract that paid him an annual wage of round $2.5 million. By the mid-2010s, Tomlin was making round $6 million per 12 months, making him one of many NFL’s highest-paid coaches.
In April 2021, he inked a three-year deal that bumped up his annual wage to roughly $11.5 million. By the tip of his tenure, he was reportedly making $12.5 million yearly.
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