Mike Tomlin, who served as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 legendary seasons, stepped down from his role on Tuesday.
The announcement followed the Steelers’ 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans.
While Tomlin did not specify a reason for his departure, Art Rooney II, the team’s owner, discussed the emotional conversation they shared before the decision was made.
“Mike indicated that he did not anticipate coaching at least in the near future,” Rooney said.
“I think he wants to spend time with his family and do some of the kinds of things he hasn’t been able to do for the last many, many years. If something like that comes up, we’ll deal with it when it comes up. But right now, that doesn’t seem to be on his radar.”
In a heartfelt message, Tomlin thanked the city of Pittsburgh and his team:
“It has been an absolute honour to lead this team,” he said. “I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.”
Tomlin’s tenure was remarkable, totalling 201 wins and a Super Bowl title in 2009. Under his mentorship, the Steelers won eight AFC North titles and made 13 playoff appearances. Notably, he never had a losing season in his entire 19-year career.
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