Mike Tomlin has resigned as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers; he stepped down after the team’s wild-card playoff loss in January 2026.

Quick Scoop

What happened?

  • Mike Tomlin informed the Pittsburgh Steelers that he was stepping down as head coach in mid-January 2026, ending a 19-year tenure with the team.
  • The Steelers publicly announced that Tomlin had decided to step down, emphasizing his long run without a losing season and his impact on the franchise.

Was he fired or did he resign?

  • Reports and team statements describe the move as Tomlin choosing to step down, not being fired, even though he still had time remaining on his contract.
  • Because he resigned while under contract, the Steelers retain his coaching rights through the life of that deal if he decides to coach elsewhere before it expires.

Context and timing

  • His decision came right after a 30–6 wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans, which extended the Steelers’ long playoff-win drought despite regular-season success.
  • Tomlin framed the choice as one made after “much thought and reflection,” and the organization praised his legacy while beginning the search for a new head coach.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.