The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced a three-year contract extension with head coach Mike Tomlin, the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. The team made the announcement on Monday.
“Mike Tomlin’s leadership and commitment to the Steelers have been pivotal to our success during his first 17 years as head coach,” Steelers team 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.”
Before agreeing to the new deal, Tomlin was entering the final season of the three-year contract he signed with the Steelers in 2021 and was about to begin his 18th season as their head coach. Under his leadership, the team has made the playoffs 11 times in the past 17 seasons, including two Super Bowl appearances and a victory in the 2008 campaign.
The 2023 season was challenging for both the Steelers and Tomlin. They secured a playoff spot with three consecutive wins at the end of the regular season but were eliminated by the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card Game. This led to rumors about Tomlin’s future with the team.
“I certainly could have handled that situation better than I did,” Tomlin said days after the postseason loss. “But I’ll also say this: I just believe there’s a time and place for everything, and postgame press conferences are probably not the place to address contract issues and things of that nature. It’s just a very individual thing, and on game day, I doubt any of us are in that mindset.”
During the offseason, the Steelers made several moves to strengthen their team. They appointed former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, signed quarterback Russell Wilson in free agency, and traded with the Chicago Bears for former first-round signal-caller Justin Fields.
“I am appreciative of this contract extension and thankful to 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.”
Leave a Reply