Four weeks prior to the start of the 2008 NFL season, thousands of die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fans converged on the campus of St. Vincent’s College in LaTrobe, Pa. Dressed in black and gold or in replica jerseys of their favorite Steelers players, the supporters let out a thunderous roar as players Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and James Harrison took the field prior to practice. But the fans reserved their most resounding ovation for the man who is the team’s architect.
In his second year with the Steelers, head coach Mike Tomlin has gained the respect of Pittsburgh’s demanding fans and is arguably one of the most meticulous game planners in the NFL. At 36, he is the youngest coach to reach the Super Bowl and could become just the second black coach to capture the prestigious title. The nation will get a chance to witness his gridiron mastery when Pittsburgh takes on the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa Bay on Sunday, Feb. 1.
“We’re going to be a humble group. We’re going to be a grounded group. We’re going to be a selfless group,” Tomlin announced during a recent press conference in Pittsburgh.
Tomlin’s preparation for this moment began nearly 10 years ago, after he joined the NFL Minority Fellowship Program. Established in 1987 by the late Bill Walsh, the Minority Fellowship Program provides training positions for minority coaches at various teams in the NFL. At the age of 29 and after interning with the Cleveland Browns, Tomlin was hired by Tony Dungy to serve as a defensive back coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
During the interview, Dungy was astonished by Tomlin’s composure and recognized his potential when they met. “I knew Mike was going to be a great coach,” says Dungy, who became the fi rst black coach to a win a Super Bowl in 2007. “He had good people skills and great knowledge of the game. The only thing I needed to tell Mike when he worked for us was to be himself and to take charge. And as we all can see, he has defi nitely done that.”
Tomlin’s ability to inspire his players stems from the advice he received from the coaching legends that mentored him along the way. “I’ve been around some great coaches such as Tony Dungy, Brad Childress and Jon Gruden,” Tomlin admits. “That’s the number one thing. I was around people who did it right. They took an interest in my growth and development and I owe those guys credit.” “I try to keep it in perspective,” adds Tomlin. “Coaching is what I do; being a husband and a father is who I am.” ~amir shaw
