Steelers Now
Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cam Heyward provided some insight on Mike Tomlin’s final meeting with the team before he stepped down. Heyward did not disclose much, but he did reveal an interesting comment that Tomlin made to him.
“He said he was gonna take time. I will share one thing he did say to me. He was just like, ‘I’m glad I didn’t beat [Chuck] Noll’s record,” Heyward told co-host Hayden Walsh on their Not Just Football podcast. “
Heyward did not provide further commentary on why Tomlin said that. It could be out of respect for the four-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Chuck Noll. Perhaps, in humility, Tomlin thought he did not deserve to have the record.
Tomlin would’ve broke Noll’s franchise record if he returned for a 20th season as the Steelers’ head coach. The two coaches will now forever remained tied with 193 regular-season wins. Noll was the Steelers’ head coach for 23 years (1969-1991).
Tomlin tied Noll for the most regular-season wins in franchise history when the Steelers sealed their AFC North title with a victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.
With the 193rd win in franchise history, Tomlin is also tied for ninth place all-time. This same season, he surpassed Dan Reeves for sole possession of 10th place all-time.
Tomlin continuously downplayed his personnel achievements when asked about tying or breaking Noll’s record. He did the same with Tony Dungy during their one-on-one interview prior to the Steelers-Ravens game in Week 18.
“I don’t know if it does because I’m just living it,” Tomlin said when Dungy asked if tying the record would mean something to him. “I’m certainly appreciative of this long stability that I’ve been able to have here. And the stability that we’ve had. But individual records, with the gravity of what’s in front of us as a collective, I’ve just learned to share the urgency of the men. Their careers are short.”
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Cam Heyward Reveals Stunning Comment Made by Mike Tomlin
