Mike Tomlin  was named the 16th head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history on Jan. 22, 2007. Hired at the age of 34, Tomlin became only the third head coach hired by the Steelers since 1969.

Tomlin finished his first year as Steelers head coach with a 10-6 record in the regular season, and became just the second coach in team history to post a winning record, win a division title and earn a playoff berth in his inaugural season.  

Prior to joining the Steelers, Tomlin spent the 2006 season as the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive coordinator after spending the previous five seasons (2001-05) as defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tomlin guided the Steelers to the NFL’s top-ranked defense in 2007, yielding only 266.4 yards per game. The Steelers’ defense ranked third in the NFL against both the run (89.9 avg.) and pass (176.5 avg.), and also finished third in the league in total yards allowed per play (4.6). Pittsburgh’s defense led the NFL in passing yards per play (5.7) and first downs allowed per game (15.6), and finished second in the league in points allowed per game (16.8).

The Steelers’ offense finished third in the NFL in rushing (135.5 avg.) during Tomlin’s first season, sparked by RB Willie Parker who led the league in rushing before injuring his leg in Week 16. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger enjoyed a record-setting season during Tomlin’s first year, establishing new team records for touchdown passes (32) and passer rating (104.1), while earning his first career Pro Bowl appearance. In 2007, the Steelers held the advantage in time of possession in 14-of-16 regular season games.

Tomlin was the NFL’s second-youngest head coach in 2007, and he became only the second Steelers coach in team history to win at least 10 games during his first year at the helm.  The Steelers posted a 7-1 record at home in 2007 and were 5-1 in the AFC North (3-0 at home).

Tomlin became only the second Steelers head coach to win his first three games. During 2007, the Steelers became just the fifth team in NFL history to win their first four home games by at least 20 points. 

In 2006 as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, the Vikings ranked eighth in the NFL in total defense and first against the run while not allowing a 100-yard rusher the entire season. They held the Detroit Lions to minus-three yards rushing while playing on the road (Dec. 10).

   Before becoming Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Tomlin was defensive backs coach for five seasons for one of the NFL’s top defenses in Tampa Bay. Tomlin’s defensive backs earned numerous honors for their play during his coaching tenure. In 2005 Tampa Bay led the NFL in total defense, allowing 277.8 yards per game, and finished 6th in the league against the pass (183.1 avg.).

   In 2002 Tomlin guided one of the most productive defensive backfields in the NFL, culminating with its performance in Super Bowl XXXVII. The secondary recorded four of the team’s five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns to help Tampa Bay capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.

   Prior to joining Tampa Bay’s staff, Tomlin served two seasons as the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati (1999-00). He took over a secondary that ranked 111th in the nation in pass defense in 1998 and helped them improve to 61st overall in his first season in ’99. Under Tomlin’s direction in 2000, the Bearcats ranked eighth in the nation in interceptions as well as fourth nationally in total turnovers.

   Prior to joining the Cincinnati staff, Tomlin had a short stint on the coaching staff at Tennessee-Martin and then spent two seasons at Arkansas State where he coached wide receivers in 1997 before switching to defensive backs in 1998. Tomlin spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Memphis, where he worked with the Tiger defensive backs and special teams units. He began his coaching career in 1995 as wide receivers coach at Virginia Military Institute.

   Tomlin was a three-year starter at wide receiver at William and Mary (1990-94) and finished his career with 101 receptions for 2,046 yards and a school-record 20 TD catches. A first-team All-Yankee Conference selection in 1994, he established a school record with a 20.2 yards-per-catch average.