History of Mike Tomlin in Timeline

Mike Tomlin is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2007. He boasts a successful career, leading the Steelers to 12 playoff appearances, seven division titles, three AFC Championship Games, and two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl XLIII. At 36, he was the youngest Super Bowl-winning coach, later surpassed by Sean McVay. Tomlin holds the record for the most consecutive non-losing seasons (18) to begin a coaching career, trailing only Tom Landry and Bill Belichick for overall consecutive non-losing seasons. Following Belichick's departure, Tomlin became the NFL's longest-tenured active head coach. After Gregg Popovich's departure in 2025, Tomlin became the longest-tenured active head coach in the 'Big Four' sports leagues.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1935: Bach's Age

In 1935, Bach was 34 years old.

1937: McNally's Age

In 1937, McNally was 33 years old.

1939: Kiesling's Age

In 1939, Kiesling was 35 years old.

1941: Donelli's Age

In 1941, Donelli was 33 years old.

1945: Leonard's Age

In 1945, Leonard was 35 years old.

1948: Michelosen's Age

In 1948, Michelosen was 32 years old.

1966: Austin's Age

In 1966, Austin was 38 years old.

1969: Noll's Age

In 1969, Noll was 38 years old.

March 15, 1972: Michael Pettaway Tomlin Born

On March 15, 1972, Michael Pettaway Tomlin was born. He later became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1990: Graduates from High School

In 1990, Mike Tomlin graduated from Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia.

1992: Cowher's Age

In 1992, Cowher was 34 years old.

1994: All-Yankee Conference Selection

In 1994, Mike Tomlin, as a wide receiver, was a second-team All-Yankee Conference selection while at the College of William and Mary.

1995: Begins Coaching Career at VMI

In 1995, Mike Tomlin began his coaching career as the wide receiver coach at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) under head coach Bill Stewart.

1995: Graduates from College

In 1995, Mike Tomlin graduated from the College of William and Mary with a sociology degree and became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

1996: Graduate Assistant at University of Memphis

In 1996, Mike Tomlin spent the season as a graduate assistant at the University of Memphis, working with defensive backs and special teams.

1997: Hired by Arkansas State University

In 1997, Mike Tomlin was hired by Arkansas State University to coach its defensive backs, staying there for two seasons.

2001: Hired as Defensive Backs Coach for Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2001, Mike Tomlin was hired as the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under head coach Tony Dungy.

2002: Buccaneers Lead NFL in Total Defense

In 2002, under Tomlin's tenure as defensive backs coach, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers led the NFL in total defense, allowing the fewest yards per game.

January 2003: Buccaneers Win Super Bowl XXXVII

In January 2003, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII. The team recorded a Super Bowl-record five interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns, contributing to the victory.

2005: 2005 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers

After spending 2006 as the Vikings' defensive coordinator, Tomlin was selected to interview for the vacant head coaching position with the 2005 Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

2005: Buccaneers Lead NFL in Total Defense Again

In 2005, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers again led the NFL in total defense, continuing their strong defensive performance during Tomlin's tenure.

2005: Tice fined for Super Bowl ticket scalping

In 2005, then-Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice was fined $100,000 for scalping Super Bowl tickets.

2006: Selected as Vikings' Defensive Coordinator

In 2006, Mike Tomlin was selected by Vikings' head coach Brad Childress to be his defensive coordinator, marking a step up in his coaching career.

2006: Vikings' Defensive Performance

In 2006, the Vikings, with Mike Tomlin as defensive coordinator, finished with the NFL's eighth-best overall defense. They were the top-ranked defense against the run and the worst-ranked defense against the pass.

January 27, 2007: Hired as Steelers Head Coach

On January 27, 2007, Mike Tomlin was hired as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, succeeding Bill Cowher and becoming the 16th head coach in franchise history.

2007: Joins the Pittsburgh Steelers

In 2007, Mike Tomlin joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as head coach, marking the start of his tenure with the team.

2007: First Season as Steelers Head Coach

In 2007, Mike Tomlin retained many of Bill Cowher's assistants and led the Steelers to the top-ranked defense in the NFL, winning the AFC North Division championship with a 10–6 record. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs.

2008: Youngest NFL Head Coach to Super Bowl

In 2008, when the Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, Mike Tomlin became the youngest NFL head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl.

January 29, 2009: Named 2008 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year

On January 29, 2009, Mike Tomlin was named the 2008 Motorola NFL Coach of the Year, recognizing his achievements in leading the Steelers.

July 13, 2010: Signs Contract Extension

On July 13, 2010, Mike Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension with the Steelers.

2010: First AFC Championship Game Since 2010 Season

In the Steelers' first AFC Championship Game since the 2010 season, they fell to the New England Patriots 36–17 in 2016.

November 13, 2011: Wins 50th Game as Steelers' Head Coach

On November 13, 2011, Mike Tomlin achieved his 50th win as the Steelers' head coach with a 24–17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, marking a significant milestone in his coaching career.

January 2012: Father's Death

In January 2012, Mike Tomlin's father, Ed Tomlin, died from an apparent heart attack at the age of 63 in Ocala, Florida.

July 24, 2012: Receives Contract Extension

On July 24, 2012, Mike Tomlin received a three-year contract extension through the 2016 season.

November 28, 2013: Thanksgiving Day Interference Controversy

On November 28, 2013, during a Thanksgiving Day game against the Baltimore Ravens, Mike Tomlin was involved in a controversy when he appeared to interfere with a kick return by Jacoby Jones. Video replay showed Tomlin near the sideline, and his presence seemed to cause Jones to alter his path. While Tomlin claimed it was unintentional, it sparked widespread criticism and an NFL investigation.

December 4, 2013: Fined by NFL for Interference Incident

On December 4, 2013, the NFL fined Mike Tomlin $100,000 for his interference during the Thanksgiving Day game. The league also hinted at the possibility of stripping the Steelers of draft picks.

2014: Improvement in the 2014 season

In 2014, Tomlin led the Steelers to an 11–5 record, winning the AFC North. The season also marked the birth of the Killer B's era.

2015: Steelers Qualify for Postseason

In 2015, under Mike Tomlin's leadership, the Steelers achieved a 10–6 record, qualifying them for the postseason. They defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round before losing to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.

2016: Contract Extension Through 2016 Season

Mike Tomlin received a three-year contract extension through the 2016 season.

2016: Steelers Season

The 2016 season marked significant improvement for the Steelers. Tomlin led the team to a 11–5 record and the Steelers won seven straight games to finish the season. The Steelers finished atop the AFC North and defeated the Miami Dolphins 30–12 in the Wild Card Round and the Kansas City Chiefs 18–16 in the Divisional Round.

November 2019: Rudolph-Garrett Incident

In November 2019, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett struck Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with a helmet. After the incident, he initially refused all media questions related to the scuffle.

2019: Steelers' 2019 Season with Quarterback Changes

In 2019, the Steelers faced challenges with the loss of starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and multiple injuries. Despite a 1–4 start, they rallied to an 8–5 record but ultimately finished 8–8 after quarterback changes between Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.

February 17, 2020: Tomlin Defends Rudolph on ESPN

On February 17, 2020, Mike Tomlin appeared on ESPN to be interviewed by Stephen A. Smith to defend Mason Rudolph against accusations of using a racial slur during the November 2019 incident with Myles Garrett.

November 6, 2020: Tomlin Fined for Not Wearing Face Mask

On November 6, 2020, Mike Tomlin was fined US$100,000 by the NFL for not properly wearing a face mask during a Week 8 game, as required for coaches during the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 20, 2021: Tomlin Signs Contract Extension

On April 20, 2021, Mike Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension to remain the Steelers' head coach through 2024.

December 11, 2022: Tomlin Surpasses Lambeau and Owen in Head-to-Head Matchups

On December 11, 2022, Mike Tomlin's matchup against John Harbaugh marked their 32nd head-to-head game, surpassing Curly Lambeau and Steve Owen for the second-most head coach matchups in NFL history.

2023: Tomlin Becomes Longest-Tenured Active Head Coach

Following Bill Belichick's departure from the New England Patriots after the 2023 season, Mike Tomlin became the NFL's longest-tenured active head coach.

June 10, 2024: Tomlin Signs Contract Extension Through 2027

On June 10, 2024, Mike Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension to remain the Steelers' head coach through the 2027 season, becoming the second longest tenured Steelers head coach of all time.

December 1, 2024: Tomlin Achieves 18th Consecutive Non-Losing Season

On December 1, 2024, Mike Tomlin secured his 18th consecutive non-losing season with a victory over the Bengals, bringing the Steelers to a 9-3 record.

2024: Tomlin's Candid Interaction with Joey Porter Jr. on Hard Knocks

During the 2024 season of HBO's Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North, a candid interaction between Mike Tomlin and Joey Porter Jr. was captured, where Tomlin emphasized growth and learning from mistakes.

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2024: Tomlin's Quote on Hot Dogs

In 2024, after a victory over the Denver Broncos, Mike Tomlin replied "I can't give you all the ingredients to the hot dog, you might not like it."

2024: Najee Harris highlights Tomlin's rapport with the team

In a 2024 interview, Najee Harris highlighted Mike Tomlin's rapport with the team by noting, "It's not like that in other places."

January 2025: Steelers Decline to Trade Tomlin

In January 2025, despite criticism for lack of postseason success, the Steelers declined to trade Mike Tomlin to the Chicago Bears.

May 3, 2025: Tomlin Becomes Longest Tenured Head Coach

On May 3, 2025, following Gregg Popovich's retirement, Mike Tomlin became the longest-tenured head coach in the big four of American sports.

2025: Tomlin Becomes Longest-Tenured Active Head Coach in Big Four Sports Leagues

Following Gregg Popovich's departure from the San Antonio Spurs after the 2025 season, Mike Tomlin became the longest-tenured active head coach in the "Big Four" sports leagues.