Mike Tomlin addresses Steelers declining to talk contract extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers have said they don’t plan to offer head coach Mike Tomlin a contract extension at any point during the 2023 season, and that’s just fine with him.
Tomlin, who’s the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL behind New England’s Bill Belichick, has two more years left on his deal that pays him approximately $10 million per season. And just like when the Steelers offered him his last contract extension, the 51-year-old coach has no qualms waiting until the final year of his contract to hash out a new deal.
“I hadn't even thought about it," Tomlin told reporters. "I'm at a stage of my career I don't care about contracts to be honest with you. I acknowledge I've seen more days than I'm going to see. You know, that's just the nature of this thing. I'm appreciative of the opportunity. I'm singularly focused. I'm thankful that I'm at a stage in life and my career where that's a non-issue for me."
Since joining the Steelers in 2007, Tomlin has been one of the more successful coaches in the NFL. He has the third-most regular-season wins (163) among active coaches, trailing only Belichick (298) and Kansas City’s Andy Reid (247), and his .636 winning percentage is the best in Steelers history.
Tomlin has led Pittsburgh to the playoffs in 10 of his 16 seasons, winning seven division titles and one Super Bowl. He’s never had a losing season, and his teams have won 10 or more games nine times. His 16 straight winning seasons is the longest streak in NFL history to begin a coaching career.
Despite heading into his 17th season, Tomlin is younger than 11 other head coaches. There’s no indication the Steelers won’t keep him around for the foreseeable future.
“I anticipate coach and I are going to be here together for a long time," Steelers GM Omar Khan told reporters on Thursday. "Him and I have a great relationship personally, professionally. … [It’s] not my department, but I anticipate both of us will be here for a long time.”
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