Mike Tomlin is out in Pittsburgh. With the longtime head coach officially stepping away, the Steelers are now searching for his replacement—one who would join a highly exclusive list of leaders who have guided the franchise since its founding in 1933.
On Tuesday, NFL Media confirmed that Tomlin is stepping down as the Steelers’ head coach. After 19 seasons together, both sides are set to move in different directions ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
With Tomlin’s departure, several head coaching candidates for the Steelers have already emerged. Now, Pittsburgh faces the task of selecting its next leader—someone who will become part of a rare fraternity in a franchise defined by stability and continuity.
Full list of Steelers head coaches after Mike Tomlin’s exit
Since their founding in 1933, the Steelers have had just 16 head coaches. That number becomes even more remarkable in the modern era, shrinking significantly after the NFL–AFL merger in 1970, underscoring Pittsburgh’s long-standing commitment to coaching consistency.
Since the NFL merger in 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had only three head coaches: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin. Now, that exclusive list is set to expand, as a fourth coach will take over following Tomlin’s surprising exit.
| Head Coach | Years | Titles | Regular-Season Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forrest Douds | 1933 | — | 3-6-2 |
| Luby DiMeolo | 1934 | — | 2-10-0 |
| Joe Bach | 1935–1936, 1952–1953 | — | 21-27-0 |
| John McNally | 1937–1939 | — | 6-19-0 |
| Walt Kiesling | 1939–1940, 1941–1944, 1954–1956 | — | 30-55-5 |
| Bert Bell | 1941 | — | 0-2-0 |
| Aldo Donelli | 1941 | — | 0-5-0 |
| Jim Leonard | 1945 | — | 2-8-0 |
| Jock Sutherland | 1946–1947 | — | 13-9-1 |
| John Michelosen | 1948–1951 | — | 20-26-2 |
| Buddy Parker | 1957–1964 | — | 51-47-6 |
| Mike Nixon | 1965 | — | 2-12-0 |
| Bill Austin | 1966–1968 | — | 11-28-3 |
| Chuck Noll | 1969–1991 | 4 Super Bowls | 193-148-1 |
| Bill Cowher | 1992–2006 | 1 Super Bowl | 149-90-1 |
| Mike Tomlin | 2007–2025 | 1 Super Bowl | 193-114-2 |
see also
Aaron Rodgers receives clear message from Steelers players after Wild Card loss to Texans that sparked retirement rumors
It is important to clarify that the Steelers did not fire Mike Tomlin. Instead, he chose to step away from football on his own accord and is expected to take at least one year away from the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport.
Despite his departure, the Steelers still retain Tomlin’s coaching rights. Per reports, Pittsburgh could look to trade those rights in 2027, mirroring a situation similar to when the New Orleans Saints traded Sean Payton’s rights to the Denver Broncos in 2023.
