Mike Tomlin coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers has become a certainty right up there with death and taxes in recent years, despite his lengthy playoff losing streak. Fans can chant to fire him all they want, but Art Rooney II was likely never going to truly fire him. He would have to "mutually part ways" with Tomlin, or Tomlin himself would have to step away for fans to see a change be made.
Well, the latter finally happened.
Tuesday afternoon, the day following the Steelers' thorough beatdown at the hands of the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, Pittsburgh announced that Tomlin would be stepping down from his duties as the Head Coach of the team.
BREAKING: The #Steelers and HC Mike Tomlin are parting ways, per sources.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 13, 2026
The end of an era in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/HppKqp8SBv
Whether you are happy, sad, or anywhere in between, there is no doubting the legacy he leaves behind as he moves into a different part of his football life.
Mike Tomlin ends his Pittsburgh Steelers career as one of the most successful coaches in NFL history
Love him or hate him, all Tomlin ever did in his 19 years with the organization was win, and win often. His 193 wins tie him with fellow Steelers great Chuck Noll for ninth all-time in wins for an HC, and his .628 win percentage is very impressive given how long he held his job at one spot.
The issue, at least for most Steelers fans, was his playoff record. With just an 8-12 mark, it hardly lives up to the standard that the Steelers hold themselves to. The seven-consecutive playoff losses loom large as well, something only former Bengals HC Marvin Lewis has ever done.
Ultimately, Tomlin's legacy in Pittsburgh will be a tale of two halves. The first half of his tenure was remarkable for any coach, with a Super Bowl title, a second appearance, and an 8-6 playoff record from 2007-2016. Since then? Basically nothing to show for except his lauded non-losing season streak and multiple early playoff exits,
It's why many fans were ready to move on, and likely why Tomlin also felt it was time to change things up for himself.
Whether he makes a move to a TV role or simply sits out a season before looking to return to the NFL, one thing is for certain: Pittsburgh will never forget the last 19 years he spent guiding the Steelers.