Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

With Tomlin resigning, two head coaches I have thought of lately are Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher.

Both won one Super Bowl and made a second. Tomlin has more wins and a slightly higher win percentage, but Cowher had more playoff wins outside of his Super Bowl seasons.

Not sure about other positions, but Roethlisberger’s prime was more under Tomlin, and was arguably better than any quarterback Cowher had until Big Ben.

So who was better: Cowher or Tomlin?

I think that Cowher was a little better (he had better control of his team), but neither guy was that great.

They both rode the coattails of what Noll built. And, they were both carried somewhat by Lebeau's defense, and Tomlin wasn't as good after Cowher's leaders left.

Both of those guys kept their jobs longer than they should have.

7DnBrnc53 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 6:24 pm I think that Cowher was a little better (he had better control of his team), but neither guy was that great.

They both rode the coattails of what Noll built. And, they were both carried somewhat by Lebeau's defense, and Tomlin wasn't as good after Cowher's leaders left.

Both of those guys kept their jobs longer than they should have.

Why would you say they would've both still been riding Noll's coattails? Tomlin in particular because at that point we are 16 years removed from his retirement.

Also, when should Cowher and Tomlin have each been fired in your opinion?

By percentage more likely to win the division with Cowher (just under half of Cowher's era it was statistically harder to win the division.)

Slightly more likely to "make the playoffs" with Tomlin (just under 1/3rd of the Tomlin era it was statistically easier to make the playoffs.)

With Tomlin much more likely for the season to end with a loss in a Wild Card game.

With Cowher much more likely to get to the Divisional round and much more likely to advance to the AFC Championship game.

Tomlin a slightly better regular season win % and never had a losing season.

Looks like Cowher is the answer, to me.

Personally, and I'll add that I'm more of a Tomlin fan, I don't find them too dissimilar. The Steelers were the Steelers (standard was the standard, ha) during their respective eras. Both won a SB, both got to two. But once you get below that, AFC Championship appearances and working down, Cowher did more with his teams. And arguably did it in a tougher era to add accomplishments (playoff apps, division titles, etc..) to the resume. For examples, finishing 4x atop a 5-then-6 team Division v. twice qualifying for the playoffs as the 7th seed.

Different eras ... Cowher's teams played when the league didnt care about preserving the health and minds of players. The game was more about attrition, while gradually defense became more watered down and handcuffed, as Tomlin's teams approached 2020. He had the thrower and receivers that Cowher didnt have(Ben for three years) but couldnt win enough in postseason.

I think what 7D is saying is that Noll established a standard of winning championships and expectations, that the other coaches tried, but couldnt reach. Even Noll himself was frustrated at not maintaining that level or standard and would resign himself.

I looked fairly fast but the only season of Cowhers 15 seasons where that division had 3 teams above .500 was 2000 while Tomlin had 7 of 19 seasons with the division having 3 teams higher than .500

Cowher was less likely to loose by a large margin in the playoffs compared to Tomlin.

As I recall in the last years of Three Rivers the Steelers were hampered by not having enough cash to pay out big signing bonuses. If my memory is correct then that perhaps needs to be taken into account when evaluating Cowher's record in 1999 and 2000.

Sonny9 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 11:39 pmI looked fairly fast but the only season of Cowhers 15 seasons where that division had 3 teams above .500 was 2000 while Tomlin had 7 of 19 seasons with the division having 3 teams higher than .500

Some of that is different division scheduling, and some is 17-game schedule. For example, three Cowher seasons had 10 division games, four had 8 games in the division. Then there's the five times the AFC Central/North 3rd place teams finished 8-8 in Cowher's 15 seasons. Impossible to finish 9-8 with a Week 18 win to finish "above .500" as happened twice with the AFC North 3rd place teams in the Tomlin "7 of 19 seasons with the division having 3 teams higher than .500" mentioned. 1996 AFC Central for example, with two 8-8 teams, possibly looking at adding another/3rd team to "above .500" with a 17-game schedule.

Here's some other "strength of division" stats during their eras (stats include Steelers.)

AFC Central/North teams went to 4 SBs during Cowher's 15 seasons, with two SB wins (PIT & BAL)
AFC North teams went to 4 SBs during Tomlin's 19 seasons, with two SB wins (PIT & BAL)

AFC Central/North teams went to 10 AFC Championship games (9 seasons, one year two AFC Central) during Cowher's 15 seasons, with a 4-6 combined record.
AFC North teams went to 9 AFC Championship games (8 seasons, one year two AFC North) during Tomlin's 19 seasons, with a 4-5 combined record.

10 of 15 Cowher seasons the AFC Central/North had 2 of 6 AFC playoff teams.
5 seasons (33%) where just the division winner qualified.

12 of 19 Tomlin seasons the AFC North had 2+ of 6/7 AFC playoff teams (11 of 19 seasons if no 7th seed)
7 seasons (37%) where just the division winner qualified (8 seasons if no 7th seed)
4 seasons 3 of 6/7 AFC playoff teams (2 each in 6 and 7 AFC playoff teams eras)

Tomlin had more seasons where there was just one "good" (defined by making the playoffs) team in the division (including years it was PIT) but also had seasons with 3 playoff teams in-division (equalized, 2 seasons of 3 AFC Top-6.)

https://www.profootballresearchers.com/ ... 8ef1f679ef

It’s still Cowher with me. Still not by a lot, but by a bit more than where I was in that above Jan ’22 thread (coming off their 1st-Rd loss at KC, Big Ben’s last game). Simply more deeper playoff runs and only having Big Ben very early on.

I don’t oppose Tomlin stepping down. It was getting stale, both together. Tomlin will win playoff games again, so will Steelers, but just not together. This ‘election-of-a-Pope’-like event with the Steelers picking a new HC is exciting (third time in my life I’m experiencing this). I just hope they make another move quick if the next HC doesn’t work out after just a few seasons.

Remember, unlike Noll and Cowher, Dan will not be present for the decision. Let’s see if Art II & Co can make the right, hopefully long-term, pick as well!

https://www.profootballresearchers.com/ ... 8ef1f679ef

It’s still Cowher with me. Still not by a lot, but by a bit more than where I was in that above Jan ’22 thread (coming off their 1st-Rd loss at KC, Big Ben’s last game). Simply more deeper playoff runs and only having Big Ben very early on.

I don’t oppose Tomlin stepping down. It was getting stale, both together. Tomlin will win playoff games again, so will Steelers, but just not together. This ‘election-of-a-Pope’-like event with the Steelers picking a new HC is exciting (third time in my life I’m experiencing this). I just hope they make another move quick if the next HC doesn’t work out after just a few seasons.

Remember, unlike Noll and Cowher, Dan will not be present for the decision. Let’s see if Art II & Co can make the right, hopefully long-term, pick as well!