Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday after 19 seasons in which he never had a losing record, an all-time NFL record.
“During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as coach. I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared. His record of never having a losing season in 19 years will probably never be repeated,” said Art Rooney II, team owner.
Leaving without dismissal and with options open
With this agreement, in which he was not fired, the 53-year-old coach will have the option to choose if he wants to take a sabbatical year.
Train with another team or work as a television analyst, an industry in which he has several offers.
Mike Tomlin made this decision after his team’s 6-30 loss to the Houston Texans on Monday, which eliminated them from the American Football Conference (AFC) wild card round of the NFL playoffs.
“It is difficult for me to put into words the respect and appreciation I have for Coach Mike Tomlin.”
“He led the franchise to our sixth championship in Super Bowl XLIII, made the playoffs 13 times in 19 years, including eight AFC North titles,” the Steelers owner added.
Mike Tomlin, who joined the team in 2007, leaves with a record of 193 wins, 114 losses and two ties in the regular season.
In the playoffs, they have a record of 8-12.
Revolution in the NFL
I'm extremely grateful with Mike
Art Rooney II
The Steelers are the seventh team to change their head coach (Mike Tomlin) after the end of this season.
The first was Raheem Morris, who left the Atlanta Falcons the previous Sunday after failing to qualify his team for the postseason.
Kevin Stefanski was cut from the Cleveland Browns on Monday after six seasons.
So did Pete Carroll, fired from the Las Vegas Raiders, and Jonathan Gannon of the Arizona Cardinals, all of whom had losing seasons.
On Tuesday, John Harbaugh joined the unemployed after 18 years at the helm of the Baltimore Ravens.
A day later Mike McDaniel was the sixth, after failing to lead the Miami Dolphins to the playoffs.
With information from EFE
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