The 5 best head coaches in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Since the NFL merger, no team has a better track record when it comes to hiring head coaches than the Pittsburgh Steelers. This organization prides itself on consistency, longevity, and leadership they have received from their long-time head coaches.

Three legendary head coaches immediately come to mind when you think about the Steelers, and determining where they fall in the rankings wasn't easy. The tenure of these three coaches spanned over such a long period of time that most Steelers fans around today weren't around to see any other head coach lead this team.

Before the AFL-NFL merger, the Steelers were not a highly-regarded football team, and success was not easy to come by. Still, there are a few lesser-known head coaches for Pittsburgh who deserve recognition for their accomplishments.

Criteria for selection

Because head coaches have different strengths and weaknesses, developing the ranking criteria was not easy. However, most head coaches are measured by the success they bring to their football team. This includes their regular season record, but more importantly their team's performances in the postseason.

In addition to the win-loss column, I considered how each coach raised the performance of their team and the talent they had to work with. This often is a measure of leadership qualities and intangibles.

Longevity and consistency at the position were also important, as was each coach's ability to get their team to perform in the clutch. I also considered the special niches these head coaches brought to the team. For most, it was their defensive minds that helped bring some of the greatest defenses in Steelers history.

To qualify for a ranking, these coaches must have been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for a minimum of one season. I also took into account every coach since the start of the team in 1933; not just since the NFL merger.

The top 5 head coaches in Pittsburgh Steelers history

5. Jock Sutherland

Jock Sutherland was best known as a legendary coach at Pitt, where he won six national championships. This helped him earn a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951. Sutherland was hired as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach in 1946.

Following a 5-5-1 season, Sutherland led the Steelers to an 8-4 record in 1947 -- the best season in the first thirteen years of the professional football franchise. This was accompanied by a playoff appearance, though Pittsburgh lost to Philadelphia in the Divisional Round.

Sutherland tragically passed away before the start of the 1948 season following surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor. His tenure with the Steelers and journey in life ended far too soon. Sutherland recorded a record of 13-9-1 in two seasons as the Steelers head coach.

4. Buddy Parker

The Steelers cycled through three different head coaches from 1948 until 1956. In 1957, the team found a quality head coach in Buddy Parker. Parker was already an established professional head coach after earning a record of 47-23-2 record with the Detroit Lions. This included a three-season stretch of going 28-5-1 from 1952 to 1954 and winning two NFL Championships.

Parker had some work to do on a Steelers team that went 14-22 under previous head coach, Walt Kiesling. After going 6-6 in his first season as Pittsburgh's head coach, Parker aided the team to a 7-4-1 record in 1958. His best season came in 1962 when the Steelers finished 9-5.

Unfortunately, this still wasn't good enough to crack the postseason before the NFL era. During his eight-year tenure as Pittsburgh's head coach, Parker led his team to a record of 51-47-6. At the time, this was good enough for the most wins by a head coach in franchise history.

3. Mike Tomlin

If you want a floor-raising head coach, look no further than Mike Tomlin. Over the years, Tomlin has faced challenging circumstances but has always managed to keep his head above water. The long-time head coach is known for his tremendous streak without a losing-record season.

Tomlin took the world by storm early in his tenure as head coach. His first season in 2007 concluded with a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance. By year two, he was a Super Bowl champion.

Tomlin led the Steelers to a pair of Super Bowls in a three year span. Though he saw a drought of postseason success late in his coaching career, he easily strung together a Hall of Fame resume and is still writing his own story as the second-longest tenured head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

2. Bill Cowher

It didn't take long for fans to realize that Bill Cowher was going to be a special NFL head coach. In his first year taking over for Chuck Noll in 1992, Cowher led his team to a record of 11-5, which included an appearance in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.

Cowher's team recorded double-digit wins in five of his first six seasons as head coach. After a few down seasons in 1998 and 1999, Cowher turned up the heat heading into the 2000s. His defense proved to be one of the best units in the NFL late in his tenure.

The legendary head coach led his team to an outstanding record of 15-1 in 2004 -- Ben Roethlisberger's first season. In 2005, he finally earned his Super Bowl ring 14 years into his career as Pittsburgh's head coach.

Cowher's tenure lasted 15 seasons and he retired after 2006 with a record of 149-90-1. He entered the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class with all-time Steelers safeties, Donnie Shell and Troy Polamalu.

1. Chuck Noll

When it comes to longevity and playoff results, Chuck Noll has a resume that only a few coaches in the history of the league possess. Noll took over a Steelers team at their lowest point in franchise history. Despite a 1-13 record in his first season as Pittsburgh's head coach, the organization did not give up on him.

Noll's team went 12-30 in his first three seasons coaching the Steelers. Year four was the turning point of Noll's career. In 1972, Noll led Pittsburgh to an 11-3 record, which included an appearance against the Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game.

Two years later, Noll began his Super Bowl run -- winning four Super Bowls from 1974 to 1979. The Steel Curtain dynasty was born, and Noll quickly became a legend. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Counting the playoffs, Noll earned a record of 209-156-1 with the Steelers. His resume is more impressive than any head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

The best 5 head coaches in Pittsburgh Steelers history by wins