Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Makes Franchise History
If there is one thing we know about Mike Tomlin and his tenure in Pittsburgh, it’s that nothing comes easy, and everything comes with a side order of cardiac arrest.
The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t just stumble into the playoffs or casually pick up an AFC North title; they survived a 26-24 nail-biter against the Ravens that came down to a missed 44-yard field goal by Tyler Loop. It was messy, it was stressful, and it was perfect. As the ball sailed wide and the clock hit zero, Tomlin didn’t just secure a playoff berth against the Texans. He walked into the history books, tying the legendary Chuck Noll with his 193rd win.
Chasing the Emperor Of Pittsburgh
In Pittsburgh, Noll isn’t just a former coach; he’s a deity. He is the guy who took a laughingstock franchise and turned it into the “Steel Curtain,” delivering four Super Bowls in six years. For nearly two decades, Tomlin has coached in the massive shadow cast by Noll.
Tying Noll at 193 wins puts Tomlin in rare air. They are now deadlocked for the most wins in franchise history and tied for ninth on the all-time NFL wins list. But the way they got there looks different. Noll was the architect of a dynasty. Tomlin has been the master of consistency. He’s now 19 seasons deep without a single losing record. It is a stat that feels almost impossible in the salary cap era, where parity is designed to drag everyone to the middle.
Tomlin Remains Unimpressed By Himself
If you were expecting Tomlin to pop champagne or give a teary-eyed speech about passing the torch, you clearly haven’t been paying attention for the last 19 years. When asked about the milestone, he gave the most Tomlin answer imaginable, essentially saying it has “no relevance.”
The Playoff Monkey On the Back
While the regular season record is a testament to longevity and a floor that never collapses, the conversation around Tomlin always drifts back to January. Noll has the four rings. Tomlin has one, and the drought has been real. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season.
Getting win number 193 is a monumental personal achievement that cements his Hall of Fame resume, but the fanbase is hungry for number 194 to happen in the postseason.
The regular season ended in the only fashion the Steelers know how: dramatically. Now, Tomlin has a chance to break the tie with Noll in the history books next season, but right now, he’s got a much bigger demon to exorcise in the Wild Card round. The standard is the standard, but a playoff win would sure be nice, too.
