A historic run in Pittsburgh is finally over.<\/p>\n
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has stepped down as the team\u2019s head coach, the team announced Tuesday<\/a>, one day after a first-round playoff home loss to the Texans on Monday night extended the franchise\u2019s drought to nine years without a postseason win.<\/p>\n Tomlin, 53, never produced a losing season in 19 years and won a Super Bowl during the 2008 season, but the franchise has lost seven straight playoff games since its last postseason win in 2017.<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s 30-6 loss to Houston<\/a> marked the fifth-straight loss by at least 10 points.<\/p>\n Mike Tomlin is out after 19 years with the Steelers. Robert Sabo for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cThe organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team,\u201d Tomlin said in a statement. \u201cI 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 dedicated made this journey so meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n Tomlin told the team of his decision during his 2 p.m. meeting Tuesday, per ESPN<\/a>, and is stepping away with two years left on his contract.<\/p>\n ESPN\u2019s Jeremy Fowler reported before Monday\u2019s game that a source close to Tomlin did not rule out the possibility of him stepping down<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now that it\u2019s official, it\u2019s uncertain whether he this means he will take the upcoming year off, transition to a media gig or look to join another team, although the Steelers still retain his right.<\/p>\n Should he still have the coaching itch, he would join John Harbaugh as the top candidate in this year\u2019s coaching cycle and move to the top of the list for the Giants<\/a> and others.<\/p>\n There are now nine jobs open, with the Steelers joining the Giants, Falcons, Cardinals, Titans, Ravens, Browns, Raiders and Dolphins.<\/p>\n If Tomlin wants to take a year off, ESPN\u2019s Peter Schrager said earlier this year there\u2019s a \u201cchair waiting\u201d either in a broadcast booth or on a pregame\/postgame show.<\/p>\n Fox would be the favorite in such a scenario, according to The Athletic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mike Tomlin and Texans coach DeMeco Ryans after Monday\u2019s game. AP<\/p>\n Tomlin did not answer a question about his future Monday night.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not even in that mindset as I sit here tonight,\u201d Tomlin said. \u201cI\u2019m more in the mindset of what transpired in this stadium and certainly what we did and didn\u2019t do. Not a big-picture mentality as I sit here tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Tomlin exiting his position comes after yet another disappointing playoff flop.<\/p>\n While Tomlin has shown his coaching chops by never finishing with a losing season, questions emerged about the team\u2019s direction under his guidance.<\/p>\n The Steelers are one of the NFL\u2019s premier franchises, but they haven\u2019t been true AFC or Super Bowl contenders since the 2020 season.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh has finished with nine or 10 wins in each of the last five seasons, and with at least eight wins in seven of the last eight campaigns.<\/p>\n The franchise is also in a horrible playoff rut, having lost six straight games since losing the Patriots in the AFC Championship game during the 2016 season.<\/p>\n Tomlin lost his last seven postseason games. AP<\/p>\n Monday\u2019s loss to the Texans marked the third time in this stretch Pittsburgh has lost at home in the playoffs, joining previous setbacks to the rival Browns and Jaguars.<\/p>\n The last five postseason losses have all come by at least 10 poitns.<\/p>\n The nine-year drought and inability to produce elite regular seasons raised questions about whether the franchise had become stale, particularly on offense.<\/p>\n The franchise struggled to find a solid quarterback until 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers joined the franchise this year, but even he may be a one-year stopgap.<\/a><\/p>\n Tomlin owned a 193-114-2 record in the regular season and an 8-12 playoff record while guiding his team to the playoffs in 13 of 19 seasons.<\/p>\n The Steelers bested the Cardinals to win their sixth Super Bowl during the 2008 season, his second campaign after replacing Hall of Famer Bill Cowher.<\/p>\n Tomlin led the franchise back to the Super Bowl two seasons later, where they fell to Rodgers and the Packers.<\/p>\n Pittsburgh is just 3-10 in the playoffs since winning that loss to Green Bay, though, with just one conference championship appearance.<\/p>\n Mike Tomlin reacts after Winning the Super Bowl AP<\/p>\n \u201cWhile this chapter comes to a close, my respect and love for the Pittsburgh Steelers will never change,\u201d Tomlin said in is post. \u201cI am excited for what the future holds for the organization, and I will forever be grateful for my time coaching in Pittsburgh.\u201d<\/p>\n Tomlin\u2019s 193 regular-season wins are tied for the ninth-most in NFL history.<\/p>\n