Mike Tomlin Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers LB compares Mike Tomlin's job security to freezing cold temperatures

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 1/11/24

After six Super Bowl titles and 24 seasons with the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick's reign as the longest-tenured NFL head coach ended on Thursday.

Could Pittsburgh Steelers leader Mike Tomlin (the new longest-tenured man at the helm) be on the hot seat too?

Steelers linebacker Myles Jack addressed that topic on Thursday morning and compared Tomlin's job security to the freezing cold temperatures outside.

The notion that Mike Tomlin is ever on the hot seat, players in the locker room told me, is laughable.

Myles Jack: "I've been on teams where it's a real hot seat, and it is pretty much known that that person that's there today ain't going to be there next season ... In my…
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 11, 2024

Jack was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft and spent his first six seasons in Duval County before joining Pittsburgh. During his time with the AFC South squad, the Jaguars had four head coaches (including one interim).

In Jack's rookie campaign, Gus Bradley was let go following a 2-12 start to the year and was replaced by Doug Marrone. After Marrone helped get Jacksonville to the AFC title game in his first full season on the sidelines, the team fell on hard times and went just 12-36 over the next three years, culminating in a 1-15 record in 2020.

Marrone was fired in January 2021 and the Urban Meyer era began.

Despite having first overall pick Trevor Lawrence take over under center, the signal-caller's rookie season was sunk by Meyer's scandalous, antic-filled short run as an NFL coach. After just 11 months and two wins, the former three-time national champion was fired by the organization and Darrell Bevell took over as the interim head coach.

Former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson was hired by Jacksonville in February 2022, just one month before Jack signed with the Steelers.

Though Pittsburgh hasn't made the Super Bowl in over a decade and hasn't made it past the wild-card round in six seasons, Tomlin's consistency since taking over has been remarkable. The Steelers have never had a losing season in his 17 years at the helm and his two Super Bowl titles and one championship ring should keep his seat nice and cold, as Jack suggested.

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