TAMPA, Fla. – Two years ago, Mike Tomlin was a relatively unknown assistant coach. Today, he is the head coach of the Super Bowl champions.
Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl at the age of 36 with his team’s 27-23 victory in Super Bowl XLIII last night.
He then made some more history, taking a phone call from President Obama, a black president congratulating a black head coach, something that seemed unlikely just a few years ago.
“Actually I couldn’t hear him,” Tomlin said. “I heard a congratulations and I thanked him for it, but I didn’t hear much of the conversation.”
Tomlin can get plenty of time with the new President when his team visits the White House later this year. For now, Tomlin will bask in the Steelers’ victory.
“We’re a team and that’s why there’s no division in our locker room, because those guys know that when the chips are down, number seven (Ben Roethlisberger) and company will ante up and kick in,” Tomlin said. “I’m just so happy and proud of them. If I could win any way, it would be like that. All people being involved and having to deliver for us is truly special. As a coach, it’s special.”
The Rooneys plucked Tomlin from obscurity two years ago. He had served as an assistant in Tampa Bay and Minnesota when he interviewed for the Steelers job after Bill Cowher walked away. The job was expected to go to one of the Pittsburgh assistants – either Ken Whisenhunt or Russ Grimm. Many people viewed Tomlin’s interview as the Steelers fulfilling the “Rooney Rule” requirement their ownership pushed for minority candidates to get an interview.
But Tomlin impressed Steelers owner Dan Rooney so much that he got the job. Now he’s made that choice look like a brilliant one.
The Steelers became the first team to win six Super Bowl titles. This is their second title in four years. But it’s the first one Tomlin has had his fingerprints on.
“I actually never even touched it,” Tomlin said last night. “I see five of them everyday when I got to work. I know what they look like. I’m just glad that I can do my part in terms of contributing to that trophy case.”
