Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh sparked arguably the NFL’s greatest rivalry over the previous twenty years.
For 18 years, Tomlin and Harbaugh’s groups have been the category of the AFC North, and every gained a Super Bowl throughout that span.
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It all got here to a poetic end because the Steelers gained the 2025 AFC North title on a Tyler Loup missed area objective as time expired at Acrisure Stadium within the ultimate sport of the common season. It ended up being the ultimate sport of Harbaugh’s tenure in Baltimore and the second-to-last act for Tomlin as a Steeler.
Over a month later, Harbaugh is the top coach of the New York Giants and assembly with members of the media in Indianapolis, whereas Tomlin is reportedly taking a 12 months off.
“Nothing but respect and admiration for what he’s done. I feel honored to be a part of that,” Harbaugh instructed Jeff Hathhorn of 93.7 The Fan concerning the time teaching towards Mike Tomlin.
The ultimate Steelers-Ravens sport, led by potential Hall of Fame coaches, ended 26-24. An prompt traditional at Acrisure Stadium. Harbaugh famous the model of workforce and tradition that Tomlin instilled within the Steelers as a key motive for his or her continued success.
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“The thing about Mike that makes him such a great coach is [that] you knew what to expect from his teams,” Harabaugh mentioned. “The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t the Pittsburgh Steelers because they’re in Pittsburgh, or they wear black and gold, or have a nickname that’s tough, and ‘steely,’ you know, or because of anything other than the personality of the people running the program.”
Tomlin by no means had a shedding season in 19 years as head coach, however didn’t win a playoff sport in his ultimate 9. Tomlin gained Super Bowl XLIII in Pittsburgh and misplaced Super Bowl XLV to the Packers, and sarcastically, his ultimate beginning quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.
He adopted within the legacy left by the 2 Hall of Famers earlier than him.
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“Mike has been the face of that organization,” Harbaugh mentioned. “They’ve got a lot of great people who have worked hard and do a great job, but that team reflects Mike Tomlin. They reflected Bill Cowher before that, and Bill Cowher was one of the greatest coaches in the history of football. Chuck Noll, before that, one of the greatest coaches in the history of football… now Mike Tomlin.”
Tomlin completed his profession 23-17 towards Harbaugh and 2-2 within the playoffs, together with the unforgettable 2008 AFC Championship Game sealed by Troy Polamalu’s pick-six of Joe Flacco late within the fourth quarter.
The Ravens have turned a brand new leaf and employed Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as their new head coach, whereas the Steelers employed the coach who beat Tomlin in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.
Pittsburgh welcomed dwelling Greenfield’s personal Mike McCarthy because the fourth head coach in 57 years. It’s up to McCarthy to uphold the custom, however elevate the Steelers again to the place they used to be.
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“I got to be across from Mike Tomlin for 18 years in some heated battles,” Harbaugh mentioned. “You always knew what you were going to get because it was a Mike Tomlin-coached football team, and I admire that very much.”
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