The former Steelers head coach is reflecting on his long career with Pittsburgh. His favorite team may surprise some fans.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to start the 2026 season without Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, for the first time since 2006. Tomlin coached the Steelers from 2007-2025. He was asked in a recent interview about their very best team he ever coached.
“Former Steelers HC Mike Tomlin says the best team he coached was the 2015 Steelers, who went 10-6 and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos in the Divisional Round,” The 33rd Team posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Tomlin revealed that fact in an interview with The Today Show on NBC.
Former #Steelers HC Mike Tomlin says the best team he coached was the 2015 Steelers, who went 10-6 and lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion #Broncos in the Divisional Round.
Pittsburgh played that day without Antonio Brown & Le’Veon Bell.
( ‘Glass Half Full’, Today Show) pic.twitter.com/MStmCatoS2
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 8, 2026
Tomlin stepped down from the Steelers after the 2025 campaign. Many Steelers fans wanted him fired, but Pittsburgh’s front office expressed they were hoping to keep him on another season.
Tomlin left the Steelers after appearing in two Super Bowls. He won the Super Bowl during the 2008 season by defeating the Arizona Cardinals. Pittsburgh lost the Super Bowl a few years later, to the Green Bay Packers.
The former Steelers head coach didn’t have much more success in the playoffs after that last Super Bowl appearance. Tomlin struggled after that to win postseason games. His last playoff win came during the 2016 season.
The Steelers are now led by Mike McCarthy, who defeated Tomlin in that Super Bowl many years ago. McCarthy is from the Pittsburgh area and is tasked with continuing Tomlin’s momentum. In his long career leading the Steelers, Tomlin never had a losing season.
Tomlin believes that he has a strong successor in McCarthy.
“I know a little bit about the Steelers situation to say the least,” Tomlin said on NBC, and reported by USA Today. “It’s perfect for them, and they’re perfect for Mike.”
Time will tell if Tomlin is right. Pittsburgh opens their season on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to start the 2026 season without Mike Tomlin on the sidelines, for the first time since 2006. Tomlin coached the Steelers from 2007-2025. He was asked in a recent interview about their very best team he ever coached.