Steelers HC Mike Tomlin Turns 50!

15 seasons. Not one losing record. A Super Bowl Champion and 154 regular season wins (franchise record). I don't think Steeler Nation will ever fully truly appreciate Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin.

Tuesday, the player's coach turned the big 5-0, and what a journey it's been so far for Coach Tomlin and the Steelers:

Tomlin continues to shatter records as he enters his 16th season as the head coach in Pittsburgh. He was the youngest head coach (at the time) to win a Super Bowl (XLIII) in league history (36 years old), and he's the fourth fastest head coach to reach 150 regular season wins. Tomlin has also led the Steelers to two AFC titles, seven AFC North division titles, and 10 playoff appearances.

Coach Tomlin is a rare breed. His calm, piercing demeanor is unmatched, all of his players love playing for him, and you can always be guaranteed a great soundbite from his run-ins with the media. Obviously. Tomlin continues to keep the Steelers a competitive franchise, year in, and year out, regardless of the circumstances, and the way he carries himself as a leader should be replicated by all.

Tomlin will head into 2022 with it being his first year without future Hall of Fame quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. We got a glimpse of what that might look like back in 2019 when Roethlisberger was lost early in the year due to a season-ending shoulder injury. Roethlisberger was replaced by the Mason Rudolph / Devlin "Duck" Hodges combo. The Steelers that season finished 8-8, and many will say, that was actually Tomlin's best coached year.

Tomlin's knock is that he often "plays down" to his competition, and overall, he and the Steelers should have at least 1-2 more Lombardi Trophies in the Steel City under his tenure. But with numerous key injuries at key times, the New England Patriots' dynasty through the 2000's, and dealing with in-house personalities like Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell to name a few, others would say that what Mike Tomlin has been able to accomplish up to this point in his career with the Steelers has truly been remarkable. He has the 14th highest win percentage in league history (.643), and third highest among active coaches (Bill Belichick, Sean McVay).

Here's to 50 more years, Coach T! Happy birthday, and good luck in 2022! We look forward to the seeing what your future holds with the Pittsburgh Steelers and beyond!

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