Biography Of Mike Tomlin From The Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was named to his position in 2007, taking over the spot from Bill Cowher. Tomlin was 34 years old when he was named head coach of the team and was only the Steelers' third coach since the start of the 1969 season. He has led the Steelers to two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl championship since becoming head coach.

Playing Career

Tomlin played Division I-AA college football, but he never played professional football. As a wide receiver at William & Mary, he started for three years from 1992 through 1994. Tomlin caught 101 passes for 2,053 yards and 20 touchdowns. Although Tomlin was not the biggest or strongest wide receiver, he used his speed and jumping ability to make plays over the defense. William & Mary coach Jimmye Laycock told the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette" that he applauded Tomlin's decision to pursue coaching after his college career came to an end. "When he told me he wanted to pursue coaching, I said, 'Great, coaching needs people like you,' " Laycock said.

Climbing the Coaching Ladder

Tomlin started his coaching career as a wide receivers coach at the Virginia Military Institute in 1995. After brief stops at Tennessee-Martin and Arkansas State, Tomlin became the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati, and he was there in 1999 and 2000. Under his coaching, the Bearcat secondary went from 111th in 1998 to 61st in 1999. That performance earned Tomlin an interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and became their secondary coach from 2001 through 2005. In 2006, Tomlin parlayed his success in Tampa -- the Bucs won a Super Bowl during his time there -- to gain the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator job.

Steelers' Head Coach

Bill Cowher stepped down as the Steelers' head coach following the 2006 season. The Steelers, with five Super Bowl championships at that time, had become one of the NFL's most important franchises. No team had won more Super Bowls, and the Steelers' head coaching position was revered. Tomlin interviewed for the position at the age of 34. Tomlin was the same age that Cowher was when he was named to the position and the same age that Chuck Noll was named to the position in 1969. Steelers' owner Dan Rooney named Tomlin the head coach in early 2007.

NFL Coaching Achievements

The Steelers had missed the playoffs in 2006, but they won the AFC North Division title in 2007 under Tomlin with a 10-6 record. After losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild-card round of the playoffs, the Steelers were focused and consistent in 2008. After winning the division with a 12-4 record, the Steelers beat the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC playoffs to win a sport in Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers won the game 27-23, giving Tomlin his first Super Bowl title and the franchise its sixth. The Steelers returned to the Super Bowl following the 2010 season, but they lost Super Bowl XLV to the Green Bay Packers 31-25.