Sporting News ranks Steelers' Mike Tomlin seventh-best NFL coach for 2022 season

Any list of the most-respected active NFL head coaches in the game today likely has Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers at least near the top of it. 

Tomlin has never posted a losing season since taking over in 2007, holds an overall regular-season record of 154-85-2, has gone 8-9 in the playoffs, and has a 1-1 mark in Super Bowl games. The 50-year-old is, however, up against it this summer following the retirement of future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and is seemingly on track to name veteran Mitchell Trubisky as his next starter and Roethlisberger's successor.

Back in June, Pro Football Network ranked Tomlin as the NFL's third-best head coach ahead of the upcoming campaign. Weeks later, a CBS Sports piece had Tomlin listed fourth among head coaches. Thus, some Steelers fans understandably may be surprised to learn that Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer has ranked the one-time Super Bowl champion coach seventh overall before Saturday's preseason opener versus the Seattle Seahawks. 

John Harbaugh of the division-rival Baltimore Ravens is directly above Tomlin and sixth on Iyer's list.

"Tomlin has the ring to match his friendly division rival Harbaugh and his calling card is never having a team finish with a losing record," Iyer explained. "He also has had a reliable defensive system with the right players to thrive in it. He should get back on track soon with a big offensive transition post-Ben Roethlisberger." 

Atop Iyer's rankings is reigning Super Bowl champion Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams. Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is second, followed by Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur. 

For those interested in such things, Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule is dead last.