Full Name: Michael Pettaway Tomlin
Born: March 15, 1972
Birthplace: Hampton, Virginia, USA
Education: College of William & Mary (B.A. in Sociology)
Family: Married to Kiya Tomlin; two sons (Michael Dean and Mason)
Early Life and Education
- Grew up in Newport News, Virginia.
- Played wide receiver at the College of William & Mary, earning All-Yankee Conference honors.
- Known for being intelligent, focused, and a natural leader even as a young athlete.
Coaching Career Path (Pre-NFL)
- 1995–1996: Graduate assistant at Virginia Military Institute (VMI).
- 1997–2000: Defensive backs coach at multiple colleges, including Memphis, UT Martin, and Arkansas State.
- 2001: Defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati.
NFL Coaching Career
- 2001–2005 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): Hired by Tony Dungy as defensive backs coach. Played a key role in developing a dominant defense that helped win Super Bowl XXXVII under Jon Gruden.
- 2006 (Minnesota Vikings): Defensive coordinator — his unit ranked 8th in the NFL in total defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach (2007–Present)
- Hired in 2007, becoming:
- The 10th head coach in Steelers history.
- The youngest head coach in the NFL at the time (age 34).
- Only the second African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl (after Tony Dungy).
Coaching Highlights
- Super Bowl XLIII Champion (2008 season)
- AFC Champion (2008, 2010)
- NFL Coach of the Year Candidate multiple times
- Historic Consistency: No losing seasons through 17 years as head coach
- Defensive Minded: Known for tough, disciplined defenses and leadership during transitions
- Legacy and Impact
- Respected across the league for his leadership, communication skills, and stability.
- Has mentored numerous players and coaches, contributing to a strong locker room culture.
- Known for quotable “Tomlinisms” — motivational, no-nonsense one-liners like “The standard is the standard.”
