Pittsburgh has had only three head coaches since 1969, and the Steelers aren’t planning to look for a new one any time soon.
The Steelers announced today that Mike Tomlin has signed a two-year contract extension, through the 2018 season.
“I am pleased to announce we have extended Mike Tomlin’s contract through the 2018 season,” Steelers President Art Rooney II said in a statement. “Mike has proven he is one of the top head coaches in the National Football League, and we are confident he will continue to lead the team in our pursuit of another Super Bowl championship.”
The 43-year-old Tomlin has gone 82-46 in the regular season in eight seasons as head coach, has been to the playoffs five times and has won a Super Bowl. The Steelers are pleased with those results, and Tomlin is pleased to be in Pittsburgh a long time.
“I very much appreciate this contract extension, but my sole focus has been and will continue to be meeting the challenges that lie ahead for the 2015 season,” Tomlin said. “These past nine years in Pittsburgh have been a wonderful experience for my family, and I look forward to pursuing what is the Steelers’ goal every year – bringing another Super Bowl championship to the City of Pittsburgh.”
The Steelers hired Chuck Noll in 1969 and he remained head coach until 1991. They then hired Bill Cowher in 1992, and he stayed until 2006. Tomlin, hired in 2007, will stay until at least 2018, and quite likely a lot longer than that. Pittsburgh will have at least half a century of stability at the top.
