Steelers News: Mike Tomlin Contract Extension Keeps Coach In Pittsburgh For Several More Seasons

One of the longest-tenured NFL head coaches has received even more job security. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed Mike Tomlin to a three-year extension, putting the coach under contract through the 2024 season.

Tomlin has been Pittsburgh’s head coach since 2007. Only New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton have been coaching their respective teams longer than Tomlin.

The move falls in line with the franchise's tradition of standing by their coaches. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin have been Pittsburgh’s only three head coaches since 1969.

"I am extremely grateful for this contract extension and want to thank Art Rooney II and everyone in the organization for the support in my first 14 seasons," Tomlin said in a statement. "We have a goal of winning the organization's seventh Super Bowl championship, and I couldn't be more enthusiastic about this upcoming season."

Mike Tomlin's new three-year deal with the #Steelers runs through 2024 and is a bigger commitment than the one-year-plus-an-option setup in 2019. Tomlin has coached Pittsburgh for 14 seasons and can get close to 20 with this deal.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 20, 2021

The Steelers have been a model of consistency under Tomlin. The team has never finished below .500 with Tomlin as the head coach. The 49-year-old has led Pittsburgh to nine playoff appearances and seven division titles, including the 2020 AFC North championship.

Pittsburgh won Super Bowl XLIII in the 2008 season and made its last Super Bowl appearance in the 2010 season. However, Pittsburgh last won a playoff game in the 2016 season. as fans of the perennial powerhouse have grown restless.

The Steelers ended a two-year playoff drought last season by winning the division with a 12-4 record. Pittsburgh started the season 11-0 before losing four of its last five contests. The Cleveland Browns upset the Steelers 48-37 in their wild-card playoff game.

Ben Roethlisberger has entered the season as the Steelers starting quarterback every year with Tomlin at the helm. The veteran is expected to be back under center in 2021, despite a declining performance in recent years.

The Baltimore Ravens and Browns are favored over Pittsburgh to win the division next season.