Among his NFL coaching peers, according to one national ranking, Mike Tomlin is among the top 10. But barely.
CBS Sports rated all 32 of the league’s coaches, and it pegged Tomlin at No. 10.
Here is the outlet’s rationale:
“Fourteen years and not a single losing season means Tomlin is an absolute master at keeping his players invested. His teams simply do not bottom out. His defensive touch and locker-room chemistry remain evident. But he’s not exactly thrived with in-game decisions, and Pittsburgh has tended to fizzle out down the stretch, going 3-6 in the playoffs since losing the Super Bowl in 2010.”
Tomlin ranked second among four AFC North coaches, behind No. 3 John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens but ahead of the Cleveland Browns’ Kevin Stefanski (No. 13) and well in front of the Cincinnati Bengals’ Zac Taylor (30th).
The New Orleans Saints’ Sean Payton, who like Tomlin has spent 15 seasons with one team, is ranked third.
CBS ranked the Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid as the NFL’s top coach, followed by the New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick. Albeit, its description of Belichick reads: “Let’s make one thing clear: Belichick is still the greatest NFL coach of all time.”
Tomlin, 49, is 145-78-1 since being hired in 2007. He has coached in two Super Bowls, winning one (after the 2008 season) but has won just three playoff games since Super Bowl XLV in January 2011.
In other subjective rankings, Pro Football Focus did not list Tomlin in its top seven NFL coaches. Pro Football Network slotted Tomlin at No. 3.
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