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The Pittsburgh Steelers are kicking off 2026 with the end of an era.
The Associated Press reported that Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that he is stepping down as head coach after nearly two decades with the franchise. During his tenure, Tomlin led the team to remarkable success, earning a Super Bowl title, two conference championships and eight division titles, per ESPN.
At 53, Tomlin is the longest-tenured head coach in major American professional sports. His departure leaves the Steelers searching for the organization’s fourth head coach since 1969 — an intimidating task for a franchise that acknowledged in a statement that Tomlin’s track record “will likely never be duplicated.”
Tomlin signed a contract extension in 2024 that would have kept him with the team through the 2027 season, including a club option with a March 1 decision deadline. The 53-year-old is not expected to coach anywhere else in 2026.
Here’s more on Tomlin’s departure and a closer look at his net worth.
Tomlin said his decision to leave the team required ‘much thought and reflection’
Tomlin let Steelers players know of his decision to walk away from the team at their 2 p.m. ET meeting on Tuesday. His announcement came a day after the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs, losing to the Houston Texans 30-6 in the AFC wild-card round.
In a statement, Tomlin explained his decision to leave the team wasn’t easy and required “much thought and reflection.”
“This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team,” he said. “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.”
He added, “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.”
Rooney — who’s served as the Steelers’ team president since 2003 — expressed his “respect and appreciation” for Tomlin, highlighting the coach’s extraordinary legacy with the franchise, including never having a losing season in nearly 20 years.
“Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years,” ESPN reported he said.
Steelers players echoed similar adoration. Tight end Pat Freiermuth described Tomlin as “one of the best coaches I’ll ever play for, probably the best. In my opinion his message hasn’t got stale. I believe in him.”
As Tomlin had two years remaining on his contract extension, if he opts to return to coaching in the NFL before his contract is up, the franchise could seek compensation.
Tomlin’s net worth is $40 million as of January 2026
But Tomlin doesn’t need to rush back to the football field. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the football coach has a net worth of $40 million.
When Tomlin joined the franchise in 2007, he signed a $10 million contract that paid him an annual salary of around $2.5 million. By the mid-2010s, Tomlin was making around $6 million per year, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches.
In April 2021, he inked a three-year deal that bumped up his annual salary to approximately $11.5 million. By the end of his tenure, he was reportedly making $12.5 million annually.
