Mike Tomlin: Is on the hot seat| Coaching record| Salary

Coaching Record & Tenure

• Mike Tomlin has been the head coach of Pittsburgh Steelers since 2007.

• As of 2025, he is the longest-tenured active head coach across the four major North American sports.

• His career record stands at 183-107-2 (over 18 seasons), giving him a win percentage of .630.

• Importantly, Tomlin has never had a losing season as Steelers head coach.

• Under his leadership, Pittsburgh has secured 11 playoff bids, seven AFC North titles, two Super Bowl appearances, and one Super Bowl championship (2008).

So at a glance, Tomlin’s regular-season consistency and long-term stability are among the best in NFL history.

Why Some Say He’s on the “Hot Seat”

Despite regular-season success, scrutiny around Tomlin has increased in recent years — especially regarding postseason performance. Key concerns include:

• Since winning the Super Bowl in 2008, the Steelers are just 3-9 in the postseason under Tomlin, and haven’t won a playoff game since 2016.

• Many observers point to poor timeout management, questionable late-down decisions, challenge miscues, and subpar roster-building as reasons for the lack of playoff success.

• The team’s offense has often been criticized as conservative and lackluster in a league increasingly driven by dynamic, high-powered offenses; critics argue that Tomlin hasn’t sufficiently modernized his approach, especially at quarterback and offensive scheme.

Because of these recurring issues, some analysts and fans feel Tomlin might be losing his edge — which is why he’s frequently named among the coaches “on the hot seat” as the 2025 season approaches.

Salary, Contract & Job Security

• In June 2024, Tomlin signed a three-year contract extension through 2027, worth roughly USD 50 million over the term — putting his annual salary around USD 16–16.7 million.

• That increase bumped him into the list of top-paid coaches not just in the NFL, but across all major U.S. sports.

• Given this lucrative contract, many insiders say that it’s unlikely the Steelers will part ways with him any time soon — as cutting him would be financially inefficient.

• Indeed, some analysts argue that despite criticism, Tomlin’s job is more secure than often perceived — potentially a “lifetime contract” rather than a tenuous hot-seat scenario.

Conclusion: Hot Seat or Stability?

Tomlin’s legacy is a complex mix of incredible consistency and frustrating postseason underachievement. On one hand:

• 18 seasons, no losing seasons, a Super Bowl win, and near-record-setting tenure for a single franchise.

On the other:

• A playoff drought since 2016, recurring postseason disappointments, and criticism over conservative strategy and decision-making.

Given his contract and status within the organization, it seems unlikely he will be dismissed soon. But with increasing pressure from fans and media, his margin for error is narrower than ever — 2025 might be a pivotal season: another weak playoffs would intensify calls for change, while postseason success could reaffirm his position.