Mike Tomlin understands the nature of the business. Few coaches in the NFL know it better. Especially one who has spent nearly two decades patrolling the same sideline, absorbing every high and low that comes with leading the Pittsburgh Steelers. A roller-coaster season did not deter the longest-tenured head coach in the league from securing his 19th consecutive winning season, but it did land him—once again—squarely in the ever-churning “firing pool.”
Then John Harbaugh was let go in Baltimore.
The news hit differently. Not because it was shocking, but because of what it symbolized. If Harbaugh—a Super Bowl champion and Tomlin’s fiercest rival—could be dismissed, then no résumé was untouchable. Even in the middle of preparing for a Wild Card showdown, the conversation followed Tomlin into the spotlight. And when he joined Rich Eisen on The Rich Eisen Show, he didn’t dodge it.
“First, I just have so much respect for Harbs,” Tomlin told Eisen. “We’ve certainly had some legendary battles over the years.”
Legendary is an understatement. Tomlin edged out Harbaugh with a 23-17 regular-season record. An even 2-2 in postseason battles. Their rivalry helped define an era of AFC North football—bruising, personal, and unforgiving.
The most recent chapter came in Week 18, a nail-biting slugfest that ended with a missed Tyler Loop field goal and a Steelers escape. Pittsburgh survived. Baltimore didn’t. That kick saved the Steelers’ season—and in a cruel twist, it may have sealed Harbaugh’s fate.
Tomlin didn’t gloat. He reflected.
“Unfortunately, I think it’s a component of today’s sport culture,” he said.
Mike Tomlin will not fear his future with the Pittsburgh Steelers
The comment was subtle, but painfully accurate. The grit and glamour of modern football have reshaped how success is measured. Instant gratification dominates the gridiron. Patience has become a luxury few franchises are willing to afford. Coaches are expected to win immediately—and repeatedly—or pay the price.
“There’s just not a lot of longevity,” Tomlin added.
How could there be? Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither is sustained success in the NFL. The old model emphasized culture, continuity, and trust. Today’s model is harsher. If a coach doesn’t align perfectly with the new expectations, the system spits him out.
“I’m sure we’d all love to be Don Shula and Tom Landry,” Tomlin said, “but those days are gone.”
Of all the Tomlinisms uttered this season, that one lingered. Not because it sounded like doubt—but because it hinted at a deeper question: Is greatness still valued the same way? It was the question that sculpted the 2025 campaign. Pittsburgh earned a winning record and clinched a playoff berth.
What more could he offer? Eisen sensed an opening and pushed further.
“I wonder if you think about your longevity as you head into this game Monday night?” Tomlin’s answer was immediate and unmistakable.
“I don’t. I’m tunnel vision.”
Mike Tomlin will focus on helping the Pittsburgh Steelers capture a Wild Card Win
At first, it’s hard to believe. If I were coaching a playoff team while fielding questions about job security, being unfocused would be understandable. But Tomlin stayed true to form.
“When I get texts from people just checking in on me,” he explained, “that lets me know the outside noise is pretty loud.”
And loud it was. Calls for his dismissal surfaced at the first sign of trouble. Instead of fracturing, Tomlin responded by guiding the Steelers to their first playoff berth since 2023. It’s a Cinderella story that the outside noise couldn’t dictate.
Eisen pressed one final time.
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“So when I read stories about you thinking about TV or thinking about other things besides coaching the Steelers—that’s outside noise?”
“Rich, I don’t participate in any of that,” Tomlin said. “I can’t allow myself to. I’m not even really privy to the specifics of what you’re talking about. I’ve learned to live with it—or at least endure it.”
That tells you everything you need to know.
Tomlin is tied with Chuck Noll for the most wins in franchise history at 193. He’s not chasing validation. He’s not entertaining exits. He’s coaching football—until he can’t anymore. And for now, that’s exactly where his mind remains.