Mike Tomlin Took Over Steelers Coaching in 2007. Since Then, The Team Never Had to Look Back

The Pittsburgh Steelers are probably not looking forward to a Super Bowl anytime soon, but they aren’t surely looking backward with head coach Mike Tomlin. With Monday’s December 31 win over the Seattle Seahawks, the Steelers’ HC has gone one step closer to matching the NFL’s greatest-ever winning streak.

The longest winning-season streak ever accumulated was by the Dallas Cowboys in the last century. The New England Patriots side came close to touching it but never quite did. Being the HC closest to the record, Mike Tomlin stands as the only hope to break the legendary record.

Mike Tomlin: The record-breaking head coach

The Steelers are notorious for their retention of head coaches. Understandably, the six Super Bowl winners are quite picky with their recruits. Their current boss, Mike Tomlin, is another example of that. He’s the closest to matching the league’s all-time winning season record, standing at 17 following New Year’s Eve’s win over the Seahawks. The win put them 9-7 with one match left to play.

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Mike Tomlin took up the coaching job in 2007, only after serving as a defensive coordinator for one season with the Minnesota Vikings. But the then-35-year-old HC already got off to a record-breaking start in his head coaching career, justifying the Steelers’ choice and the legacy of the name ‘Tom’.

The legends that Mike Tomlin is chasing

Cowboys’ legendary head coach Tom Landry ended his winning season streak nearly four decades ago, but it is yet to be topped. That’s because his streak started in 1965, even before many of the current NFL sides settled down with their names or hometowns, and ended in 1985, lasting 21 seasons.

Patriots’ legend Bill Belichick joined hands with Tom Brady in 2000, and the duo nearly rewrote the history book, going for 19 winning seasons straight. But Brady‘s unprecedented departure following the 2019 season called an end to Belichick’s win streak, which he never quite recovered from. The side has only gotten worse since.

But both of these two had extensive experience in the league, unlike Mike Tomlin. Following his arrival, Tomlin became the then-youngest coach in NFL history to play and win a Super Bowl, which he did in his second year. He further went to another Super Bowl one season later, losing to Rodgers‘ Packers.

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During his tenure, he has accounted for a combined record of 171-101-2. If anyone could break Landry’s record anytime soon, it is probably Tomlin. But the Steelers need to continue their trust in him in that case. Tom Landry, Tom Brady, and Mike Tomlin: It seems like the name ‘Tom’ is meant to break NFL records!