After spending almost 20 years in the Steel City, Mike Tomlin’s impact reached far beyond the football field. The word his community partners used repeatedly when describing him to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Felicity Taylor was leadership, both on and off the field.“When you put his entire career together professionally, community, he’s done a fantastic job and set a fantastic example,” said Esther Bush, interim president of the Urban League of Greater PittsburghWhen the Rooneys hired Tomlin in 2007, he became the first Black head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history. “He is a qualified individual, but he happens to be a Black man,” Bush said.In 2003, the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule, named for former Steelers chairman Dan Rooney. The policy originally required teams to interview at least one diverse candidate for head coaching vacancies. The rule has since expanded, requiring teams to interview at least two external candidates for any general manager or head coaching position.Bush said both the Rooneys and Tomlin helped change the racial landscape in Pittsburgh. The Urban League even presented the Rooneys with an award.“It is for the city of Pittsburgh to have a different comfort level about putting African Americans where they belong,” Bush said.Soon after arriving in Pittsburgh, Tomlin got involved where he lived and worked on the North Side. He became a role model through his work with Urban Impact. “Mike is more than a coach. He’s a father. He’s a husband. He’s a man that is on a mission. He’s about making a difference,” Pastor Ed Glover with Urban Impact said.Tomlin helped launch the “Man Up” program with Urban Impact early in his tenure. The initiative focuses on helping men love God and their families and supports the fatherless. “When you have somebody like the caliber of Mike Tomlin coming in and shaking hands with little kids and big kids and parents and showing that he has time to do that and looks them in the face, knows their name, encourage them, that is hugely impactful,” Glover said.Even as Tomlin moves beyond the Steelers, community leaders say they are confident he will remain involved in Pittsburgh and his influence will be felt for years to come.

PITTSBURGH —

After spending almost 20 years in the Steel City, Mike Tomlin’s impact reached far beyond the football field.

The word his community partners used repeatedly when describing him to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reporter Felicity Taylor was leadership, both on and off the field.

“When you put his entire career together professionally, community, he’s done a fantastic job and set a fantastic example,” said Esther Bush, interim president of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh

When the Rooneys hired Tomlin in 2007, he became the first Black head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

“He is a qualified individual, but he happens to be a Black man,” Bush said.

In 2003, the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule, named for former Steelers chairman Dan Rooney. The policy originally required teams to interview at least one diverse candidate for head coaching vacancies. The rule has since expanded, requiring teams to interview at least two external candidates for any general manager or head coaching position.

Bush said both the Rooneys and Tomlin helped change the racial landscape in Pittsburgh. The Urban League even presented the Rooneys with an award.

“It is for the city of Pittsburgh to have a different comfort level about putting African Americans where they belong,” Bush said.

Soon after arriving in Pittsburgh, Tomlin got involved where he lived and worked on the North Side. He became a role model through his work with Urban Impact.

“Mike is more than a coach. He’s a father. He’s a husband. He’s a man that is on a mission. He’s about making a difference,” Pastor Ed Glover with Urban Impact said.

Tomlin helped launch the “Man Up” program with Urban Impact early in his tenure. The initiative focuses on helping men love God and their families and supports the fatherless.

“When you have somebody like the caliber of Mike Tomlin coming in and shaking hands with little kids and big kids and parents and showing that he has time to do that and looks them in the face, knows their name, encourage them, that is hugely impactful,” Glover said.

Even as Tomlin moves beyond the Steelers, community leaders say they are confident he will remain involved in Pittsburgh and his influence will be felt for years to come.