By Angelica Medina
Jan 13 (Reuters) - Mike Tomlin's remarkable 19-year run as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach came to an end on Tuesday, as the 53-year-old walked away from a tenure defined by historic regular-season success but haunted by recent playoff disappointment.
Tomlin announced his resignation on Tuesday following a crushing 30-6 wild-card loss to the Houston Texans that extended his postseason losing streak to seven games – a stark contrast to the championship glory that marked his early years
"Coaching in Pittsburgh is unlike anywhere else, and I will always take great pride in having been a steward of this team," Tomlin said. "This organization has been a huge part of my life for many years, and it has been an absolute honor to lead this team."
Steelers president Art Rooney II said in a statement: "I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication and success we have shared over the last 19 years."
The numbers tell a tale of two eras. Tomlin's 19 consecutive non-losing seasons stand as an NFL record that may never be matched, and he guided Pittsburgh to 13 playoff appearances and eight AFC North titles.
At just 36, he became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl when the Steelers captured Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, his second season.
But recent years brought mounting frustration in a city that measures success in Lombardi Trophies.
The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since 2017, a drought that proved impossible to overlook despite Tomlin's regular-season consistency.
His departure ends an era of stability for a franchise that has employed just three head coaches – Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Tomlin – since 1969.
That continuity helped build a six-Super Bowl championship legacy, though Tomlin faced occasional criticism as a "player's coach."
Former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw once called him "more of a cheerleader guy" than coach, and high-profile locker room conflicts with Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell in 2018 highlighted discipline challenges.
His exit adds to the coaching carnage that swept the NFL following the regular season.
Last week, on the infamous Black Monday, the Cleveland Browns parted ways with Kevin Stefanski, while the Las Vegas Raiders fired Pete Carroll, the Arizona Cardinals moved on from Jonathan Gannon and the Atlanta Falcons dismissed Raheem Morris.
Baltimore later fired John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, meaning the AFC North was left without two of the NFL's longest-tenured coaches. The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants had already fired Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll respectively.
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City, additional repoting by Janina NunoEditing by Toby Davis)
