Steelers Now
Pittsburgh mayor Corey O’Connor released a meaningful statement on Mike Tomlin stepping down as the Steelers head coach.
Mike Tomlin gained a ton of respect from his players and peers throughout his 19-year career in Pittsburgh. That’s why it came as no surprise when people flooded the internet on Tuesday with praise for him after he stepped down as the Steelers head coach.
Pittsburgh mayor Corey O’Connor was among those who rushed to social media to pay their respects to Tomlin.
“Here in Pittsburgh, there’s a reason we’ve only had three head coaches in over fifty years. It’s because we have high expectations for character, grit, hard work, passion, and leadership, which Mike Tomlin brought to the team these past 19 years. He brought his brand of wisdom and a dedication that was unmatched by any other coach in the league,” O’Connor said in a statement. “When you play Pittsburgh, you play the whole city. Thank you, Coach Tomlin, for bringing home no losing seasons, 13 playoff runs, and a sixth Superbowl ring.”
My statement on the departure of Coach Tomlin. pic.twitter.com/dAoDP1GnSk
— Corey O'Connor (@CoreyOConnorPA) January 13, 2026
There’s no doubt Tomlin had a large impact on the city of Pittsburgh. His 19 non-losing seasons always kept the Steelers in contention for the postseason and the football-first mentality of the city alive.
Despite not winning a playoff game since the 2016 season, Tomlin’s Steelers were not short of big moments even in recent years.
In his final regular-season game, he led Pittsburgh to an AFC North-clinching victory over the Baltimore Ravens at home.
Tomlin will finish his tenure with a 193-114-2 overall record and tied with Chuck Noll for first place in team history with 193 victories doing so in 33 fewer games.
His legacy also includes a win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the franchise’s sixth, which came in his second season in 2008. He also made it to another Super Bowl in 2010, and another AFC Championship game in 2016.
The Steelers will now be on the market for just their fourth head coach since 1969, with Tomlin following Noll and Bill Cowher as three legendary, Hall of Fame-bound head coaches.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Pittsburgh Mayor Issues Statement to Former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin
