Steelers' historic stretch of consistency proves Mike Tomlin is still an elite coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers have rebounded from the Kenny Pickett era quite swimmingly. The combination of Justin Fields and Russell Wilson has provided enough of a spark to a team that needed just such a jolt. With the defense continuing to thrive, Mike Tomlin is positioned to possibly make some noise in the postseason.

Whenever Tomlin takes charge of a team, fans can assume they will be in just about every game they play and will constantly grind out victories, even when talent discrepancies can let them down. After a 9-3 start to 2024, Tomlin appears to be working his magic once again.

Tomlin's claim to fame in recent years has been the fact he has never overseen a losing season with the Steelers. After taking down Joe Burrow and the rival Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13, Tomlin has now hit marks that even the Tom Brady-led Patriots can't claim to have reached.

Tomlin has now tied the record for most consecutive seasons at .500 or better with 21. The previous sole record holder was Tom Landry's Dallas Cowboys, who hit that mark every year from 1965 to 1985. In a league where contenders rise and fall, Tomlin has kept the Steelers in the mix.

Steelers secure 21st consecutive .500 or better season under Mike Tomlin

Tomlin already has two Super Bowl appearances to his name, and it's not insane to imagine a third one coming in the immediate future. Pittsburgh's problem in the last few years has been below-average quarterback play letting the team down, but the Wilson-Fields combination has alleviated those concerns.

The Steelers have kept winning during that span despite the Ravens constantly fighting for division wins alongside them, the Bengals rebooting themselves to the point where they made it to the Super Bowl, and the Browns becoming less of a pushover. That's credit to Tomlin and his coaching acumen.

Tomlin's recent failures in the postseason can be seen as a strike against him, but to can be argued many of his Steelers teams in recent years were dragged into the postseason despite inferior talent. Now that he doesn't have a backup trying to play like a franchise quarterback, his luck could start to turn.

The Steelers may not be a perfect team, and it can be frustrating to consistently field good teams that don't end up making any progress in playoffs, but fans need to realize how historically successful and consistent this franchise has been with Tomlin at the sticks.