USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Was Mike Tomlin fired? What Steelers said about head coach split Josh Peter, USA TODAYJanuary 14, 2026 at 5:11 AM 0 Mike Tomlin pulled a stunner Tuesday, Jan. 13, stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers – and with two years left on his contract, per ESPN.
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Was Mike Tomlin fired? What Steelers said about head coach split
Josh Peter, USA TODAYJanuary 14, 2026 at 5:11 AM
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Mike Tomlin pulled a stunner Tuesday, Jan. 13, stepping down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers – and with two years left on his contract, per ESPN.
Were the Steelers prepared to fire Tomlin? Or did they actually usher Tomlin out the door?
Well, team president Art Rooney II didn't publicly communicate any effort to talk Tomlin out of resigning after 19 years as the team's head coach.
"During our meeting today, Coach Tomlin informed me that he has decided to step down as our Head Coach,'' Rooney said in a statement issued on X. "Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years. It is hard for me to put into words the level of respect and appreciation I have for Coach Tomlin. He guided the franchise to its sixth Super Bowl championship and made the playoffs 13 times during his tenure, including winning the AFC North eight times in his career. His track record of never having a losing season in 19 years will likely never be duplicated.
"My family and I, and everyone connected to the Steelers management, are forever grateful for the passion and dedication Mike Tomlin has devoted to Steelers football.''
2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/4LwqRtz class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
">2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/4LwqRtz class=caas-img>2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
" data-src=https://ift.tt/XO78Jd2 class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
">2008: 12-4, won Super Bowl 43
" src=https://ift.tt/XO78Jd2 class=caas-img>2009: 9-7
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2009: 9-7
" data-src=https://ift.tt/QudDgGq class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2009: 9-7
">2009: 9-7
" src=https://ift.tt/QudDgGq class=caas-img>2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
" data-src=https://ift.tt/m5ieoaR class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
">2010: 12-4, reached Super Bowl 45
" src=https://ift.tt/m5ieoaR class=caas-img>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/wzcp0vD class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
">2011: 12-4, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/wzcp0vD class=caas-img>2012: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2012: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/4auLKtE class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2012: 8-8
">2012: 8-8
" src=https://ift.tt/4auLKtE class=caas-img>2013: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2013: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/bRSul4W class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2013: 8-8
">2013: 8-8
" src=https://ift.tt/bRSul4W class=caas-img>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/G7p1wYK class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
">2014: 11-5, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/G7p1wYK class=caas-img>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/G98WMHj class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
">2015: 10-6, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/G98WMHj class=caas-img>2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
" data-src=https://ift.tt/O8g0e4I class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
">2016: 11-5, reached AFC Championship Game
" src=https://ift.tt/O8g0e4I class=caas-img>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/XnWbDIF class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
">2017: 13-3, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/XnWbDIF class=caas-img>2018: 9-6-1
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2018: 9-6-1
" data-src=https://ift.tt/sSxuthO class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2018: 9-6-1
">2018: 9-6-1
" src=https://ift.tt/sSxuthO class=caas-img>2019: 8-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2019: 8-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/dCa2TUp class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2019: 8-8
">2019: 8-8
" src=https://ift.tt/dCa2TUp class=caas-img>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/ZkXSYc3 class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
">2020: 12-4, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/ZkXSYc3 class=caas-img>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/9fAvuke class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
">2021: 9-7-1, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/9fAvuke class=caas-img>2022: 9-8
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2022: 9-8
" data-src=https://ift.tt/5gdawqX class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2022: 9-8
">2022: 9-8
" src=https://ift.tt/5gdawqX class=caas-img>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/rRBGfpa class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
">2023: 10-7, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/rRBGfpa class=caas-img>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/VlofyS5 class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
">2024: 10-7, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/VlofyS5 class=caas-img>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" style=padding-bottom:56%>2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" data-src=https://ift.tt/j2nVaCZ class=caas-img data-headline="Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons" data-caption="
2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
">2025: 10-7, reached playoffs
" src=https://ift.tt/j2nVaCZ class=caas-img>
1 / 19Mike Tomlin steps down: Look back at all 19 Pittsburgh Steelers seasons
2007: 10-6, reached playoffs
For what it's worth, firing head coaches is not the Steeler way. In fact, the team hasn't canned a coach since dumping Bill Austin in 1968.
That opened the door for Chuck Noll, who guided the Steelers to four Super Bowl championships before retiring in 1991. Next up was Bill Cower, who led the Steelers to the franchise's fifth Super Bowl title before retiring in 2006. Then came Tomlin, who guided the Steelers to yet another Super Bowl championship before stepping aside – with no apparent plans for retirement and perhaps one step ahead of someone else determining his fate.
Mike Tomlin statement
Tomlin issued his own statement on his departure, via the Steelers:
"After much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team. I am deeply grateful to Art Rooney II and the late Ambassador Rooney for their trust and support. I am also thankful to the players who gave everything they had every day, and to the coaches and staff whose commitment and dedication made this journey so meaningful.
"I want to also thank Steelers Nation. Your passion, loyalty, and high expectations represent what makes this franchise truly special. Coaching in Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else, and I will always take great pride in having been a steward of this team.
"While this chapter comes to a close, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change. I am excited for what the future holds for this organization, and I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Was Mike Tomlin fired? What Pittsburgh Steelers said about split
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: January 13, 2026 at 11:28PM on Source: ANDY MAG
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