The Pittsburgh Steelers were a miserable 2-6 at one low point during this 2022 season. For all intents and purposes it looked as if head coach Mike Tomlin’s record non-losing season streak would end at 15.
Mike Tomlin Has Record 16th Non-Losing Season To Start Career
Fast forward to Week 18, and the Steelers rode Tomlin’s leadership to a 9-8 record and only missed the playoffs by virtue of a head-to-head regular-season loss to the Miami Dolphins who secured the final playoff spot.
In what was a trying season early, Tomlin navigated his young and inexperienced Steelers team to seven wins in their final nine games. A true sign of a leader whose players have bought all the way into the culture.
Star running back Najee Harris secured his second 1000-yard rushing season in his second year as a pro. The mail-toter raved about Tomlin, who shrewdly drafted him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Alabama.
“That (victory) was just for Mike T, man,” Harris said after Sunday’s regular-season and home finals win over the bitter division foe Browns.
Even more remarkable is the Steelers are the first team since the 1978 Chargers to rally from a 2-6 start to finish with a winning record.
Mike Tomlin.
16 seasons.
0 seasons with a losing record. pic.twitter.com/Rojw8NcRT5— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 8, 2023
Mike Tomlin Adds To Record He Owns
Players said Tomlin never mentioned the record, which made them wanna keep it intact even more.
Only former Dallas Cowboys head coach Tom Landry (21 seasons) and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (19 seasons) have more seasons in a row without a losing one.
Star linebacker Terrell Edmunds, says no one lost faith that they would eventually turn things around, another credit to Tomlin. He told reporters this in his postgame presser.
“I think everyone in the locker room would’ve believed it,” Edmunds said. “Just simply because we were all so bought-in. Everyone was together. Everyone was trying to stay together. That’s what we ended up doing. We can at least hang our hat on that. Even though we didn’t get to the promised land, to dig from 2-6 and come out with a winning season, man, I think it’s special.
The legacy continues for Mike Tomlin 👏 pic.twitter.com/TpATkuIu6Z
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 8, 2023
Tomlin Had To Coach For First Time Without Ben Roethlisberger
The 2022 season was also the first time in Tomlin’s 16 season that he didn’t have future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger under center. The Steelers started former No. 2 overall pick Mitch Trubisky to begin the season, and he was nothing special. Tomlin then inserted 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who had some typical rookie struggles but the team rallied behind the former Heisman winner to go 7-5 in his 12 starts. Pickett’s coming-out party was last week’s big road win at division foe Baltimore, where the vitriol and disdain for one another is always high.
It was typical Tomlin, leading and guiding his team to unexpected wins amidst what looked like a lost season. But again Tomlin came up smelling like roses.
What Is Mike Tomlin’s Career Record?
Tomlin’s career record including playoffs is 171-102-2, one Super Bowl win and two Super Bowl appearances.
The appreciation should be just a loud as the disrespect this great coach faces yearly.
