Where does Mike Tomlin stand among the longest-tenured head coaches in NFL history?
After nearly two decades at the helm, Tomlin has confirmed his decision to step aside as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
After two decades at the helm, Mike Tomlin is stepping down as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach - bringing to an end one of the longest tenures in NFL history.
On Tuesday, the day after Pittsburgh’s playoffs elimination by the Houston Texans, the Steelers confirmed that Tomlin is to depart after 19 seasons as the team’s head coach.
“Coaching in Pittsburgh unlike anywhere else”
In a statement, Steelers president Art Rooney II said: “Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years. It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin.”
Tomlin, meanwhile, said: “Coaching in Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else, and I will always take great pride in having been a steward of this team.”
Statement from Mike Tomlin: pic.twitter.com/66O3ktES2m
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 13, 2026
The 53-year-old had led the Pennsylvania franchise since the start of the 2007 season, taking charge of a total of 309 regular-season games as the Steelers’ HC.
Super Bowl success followed by postseason slide
Tomlin steered Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 13 of his 19 seasons at the helm - with the highlight of his tenure coming at the end of the 2008 campaign. At Super Bowl XLIII in February 2009, the Virginia native oversaw a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, as the Steelers lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the sixth time in franchise history.
After winning the Super Bowl, Tomlin led the Steelers back to the NFL championship game two years later, but saw his team lose to the Green Bay Packers.
And in the 15 seasons that have followed that Super Bowl XLV loss, Pittsburgh have managed only three wins in playoff games - the last of which came back in 2016.
Monday’s 30-6 defeat to the Texans was the fifth time in the last six seasons that the Steelers have exited the playoffs in the Wild Card round.
Reid succeeds Tomlin as longest-serving active HC
Before Tomlin’s Pittsburgh exit was announced, he had been the longest-serving active head coach not only in the NFL, but across all four major North American sports leagues.
Given that John Harbaugh last week left the Ravens after 18 seasons as Baltimore’s head coach, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid has now taken over as the longest-tenured active HC in the NFL. Reid has been in charge at the Chiefs for 13 seasons.
How does Tomlin’s tenure compare to NFL record?
In the all-time ranking of the NFL’s longest HC tenures, Tomlin’s Steelers reign falls just short of the league’s top five. Per a ranking by ESPN’s Alex Kennedy, the longest-tenured head coaches in NFL history are:
- 1. Curly Lambeau: Packers, 29 seasons (1921-49)
- 1=. Tom Landry: Cowboys, 29 seasons (1960-88)
- 3. Don Shula: Dolphins, 26 seasons (1970-95)
- 4. Bill Belichick: Patriots, 24 seasons (2000-23)
- 5. Chuck Noll: Steelers, 23 seasons (1969-91)
- 5=. Steve Owen: Giants, 23 seasons (1931-53)
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