Mike Tomlin Is Officially Done
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The rumors of Mike Tomlin and his career were too loud all year. It became the main topic of discussion for weeks on end.
On Monday night, the chatter only got louder when the Houston Texans blew out the team. Even Aaron Rodgers came to his defense by dropping an F-bomb towards a reporter.
Amid reports that the team had a replacement for him, he made a final decision about his career. On Tuesday, Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Steelers. It was a shocking revelation.
Breaking: After a historic 19-season run in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin just informed his team that he is stepping down as the Steelers head coach, sources tell @JFowlerESPN and me.
The Steelers now will be looking for only their fourth head coach since 1969. pic.twitter.com/KvkPv3lA1W
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 13, 2026
After another painful playoff loss and loud fan anger, it seems he would rather make the decision than have the owners do it.
Despite the playoff struggles, Tomlin’s regular-season record remains strong. He has never had a losing season and clinched his 193rd regular-season win in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens. That win tied him with Hall of Fame coach Chuck Noll for ninth all-time.
Now there is no telling when Mike Tomlin might coach again and where he might end up. His regular-season success is undeniable. Still, the postseason numbers hurt, with six first-round exits and nine straight seasons without a playoff win.
Monday’s 30-6 loss to Houston marked the fifth-straight loss by at least 10 points. It’s uncertain whether he will be the top coaching candidate in this year’s cycle. ESPN’s Peter Schrager said there’s a “chair waiting” either in a booth or on a set for Tomlin.
Mike Tomlin could very well take a year off and come back in 2027.
