Three months after Bill Cowher was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his successor passed him in career victories.
Mike Tomlin earned his 150th win as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach when his team defeated the Chicago Bears, 29-27, Monday night. That number carries more significance than a round digit, too.
Tomlin moved into 20th place on the all-time NFL coaches’ wins list — but it was who Tomlin passed that is most of note. Tomlin surpassed Cowher, who was 149-90-1 in 15 seasons at the helm of the Steelers from 1992-2006. About to hit the midway point of his own 15th season, Tomlin is 150-81-1.
Both trail Hall of Famer Chuck Noll, who had 193 victories in 23 seasons coaching the Steelers.
“Man, I’m just appreciative of the standards set by those that have come before me,” Tomlin said after the game. “All of us are here. That standard, man, is inspirational for us. It inspires us, challenges us. I’m just thankful to be part of this thing that is the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I work to do my job to uphold the standard.”
With tonight’s win, Coach Tomlin became the 20th head coach in NFL history to reach 150 career wins.
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 9, 2021
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Tomlin, 49, trails only New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick in wins and winning percentage since Tomlin was hired in 2007. Tomlin’s .649 winning percentage is ninth-best in league history among those who coached at least 100 games. Only three coaches reached 150 victories faster than Tomlin — Don Shula, George Halas and Curly Lambeau.
Among active coaches, Tomlin is third in wins behind Belichick (285) and Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid (226). The Seattle Seahawks’ Pete Carroll and New Orleans Saints’ Sean Payton are on his heels with 148 wins apiece.
“Congratulations to (Tomlin),” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “This team is full of tradition and history, and so I’m sure that he’s proud of it — as he should be… The coaches that have been here have been pretty historic and so it’s a pretty cool thing.”
In comparing Tomlin and Cowher, each advanced to two Super Bowls and won one. Cowher had 10 playoff appearances but three losing seasons; Tomlin can attain his 10th postseason berth this season but has never had a losing season. Cowher’s most notable edge is in playoff wins — 12, as opposed to eight for Tomlin. He also had twice as many AFC championship game appearances — six, compared to three for Tomlin.
Cowher won eight division titles and Tomlin has seven through 14 seasons.
Noll, of course, won four Super Bowls during the 1970s. He was 16-8 in 12 postseason appearances.
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