Mike Tomlin Finally Gets the National Respect He Earned
PITTSBURGH, PA — If you’ve spent any time at a tailgate outside Acrisure Stadium, you know the deal. We’ve spent years defending Mike Tomlin against the “he only wins with Cowher’s players” crowd or the “first-round exit” critics. But this morning, the script flipped. The NFL officially named Tomlin a finalist for the 2024 Coach of the Year award, and honestly? It’s about time the rest of the country caught up to what we’ve known in the 412 for nearly two decades.
Do we get to see Will Howard play next season?
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔#NFL #Steelers pic.twitter.com/MgBzHZKNkF
— The Standard (@TheStandard412) January 22, 2026
The QB Carousel and the North Crown
Think about what this man just did. He walked into a season where everyone picked the Steelers to finish last in the AFC North. He juggled a quarterback room featuring **Russell Wilson and Justin Fields**, managed to keep both guys focused, and somehow squeezed out an **AFC North Division Title**. While the rest of the division was dealing with drama or injuries, Tomlin just kept stacking wins.
The “Standard” isn’t just a catchy slogan for a press conference; it’s a lifestyle. Tomlin just finished his **18th consecutive season without a losing record**. That isn’t just a stat—it’s a miracle in a league designed to make you fail. He took a roster that experts called “mid-tier” and turned them into a defensive juggernaut that stayed in the top five for points allowed all year. Whether it was TJ Watt wrecking games or the offense finding a spark under Wilson, every big moment had Tomlin’s fingerprints all over it.
Inside the Huddle
“We don’t care about the outside noise or who thinks we’re the underdog. Coach tells us every Saturday night that the only thing that matters is the man next to you. He treats us like men, and we play like warriors for him. That’s why he’s the best.” — Current Steelers Defensive Starter
The Bottom Line & What’s Next
Winning this award would be a massive “I told you so” for the city of Pittsburgh. Tomlin is up against some tough competition like Jim Harbaugh and Dan Campbell, but neither of those guys had to navigate the quarterback uncertainty that Tomlin mastered this year.
The real test, though, is the postseason. The Steelers are heading into a matchup where they’ll likely be the underdog again—exactly where Tomlin wants them. If he can lead this group to a deep run, he won’t just be the Coach of the Year; he’ll be a lock for the Hall of Fame the second he decides to hang up the headset. But don’t expect him to retire anytime soon. He looks more energized than ever. Grab your Terrible Towels, because the “Standard” is currently the gold standard of the NFL.
