The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most storied and respected organizations in all of professional sports. The franchise operates a certain way, and it works for the most part. Pittsburgh is one of the most successful NFL franchises of all time, and the team has only had three head coaches since 1969. Head Coach Mike Tomlin has been in his role since 2007, and he continues to have success as he has never had a losing season in the 18 years since signing his first contract in the Steel City.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin ahead of a 2024 home game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tomlin is the longest-tenured coach in the league, and he has gotten there by putting together great teams and knowing how to motivate them. He has built a culture in Pittsburgh that is clearly sustainable.
Before bringing in a rookie or a free agent, the organization does its due diligence on the player to make sure they will fit in with the pre-existing culture. Former NFL tight end Jake Butt spoke about his pre-draft experience back in 2017, and he explained on social media how the scouting process is a bit different in Pittsburgh.
"I remember going to different individual meetings, all unique. Each team had their own philosophy, questions, film, and playbook." Butt wrote. "Then I met with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was different from the start. Most teams send a runner/scout to take you to the correct room, so I was surprised to be greeted by Mike Tomlin. When I got to the Steelers meeting room, I noticed there was no TV - so no film."
Head coaches are typically extremely busy, and they don't have time to spend every second with a prospect when they come into the facility. Tomlin makes sure he gets to know a player immediately. Butt also described how he was surprised by this move from Tomlin, so it probably means more for prospects to be greeted by the head coach, especially one with the reputation of Tomlin.
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Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Head Coach Mike Tomlin (right) sit in the franchise's draft room as they anxiously watch the board in 2023.
Most teams meet with prospects and go over the prospect's film. They try to pick a young players brain to see how they view the game. This may be important for someone who plays quarterback, but just getting to know the person is probably more important when it comes to football. You can't coach character, so making sure a prospect is a proper organizational fit is more important to the Steelers. Butt highlighted this.
"Tomlin jumped the gun." Butt wrote. "After some brief small talk, Tomlin said, 'Don’t let these other teams fool you, you will be drafted by your film and film alone. We’ve already watched your film. We just want to get to know you to make sure you’ll fit our culture.' That made the most sense to me. It’s what I would do if I worked in a front office. It’s no surprise to me why Tomlin continues to succeed every year."
The film matters a ton. You have to be a good football player in order to play for the Steelers, but the coaching staff needs to be sure a player is the right fit. This is likely why the Steelers have such a long-running streak of success.
Benjamin B. Braun / Post-Gazette
Steelers' Mike Tomlin looks on during a snowy game in Cleveland.
Steelers' Mike Tomlin Is The Ultimate Players Coach
Tomlin is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL, and many players in the league would love the chance to play for him. He always knows how to get the best out of his players, even when the situation is a little tricky. He has been able to get the best out of players like Antonio Brown, who then left the Steelers and showed that he was actually extremely difficult to handle. Tomlin just has the magic touch with some players, and it is a reason he is one of the best coaches in all of sports.
What do you think about Tomlin's scouting process? Let us know in the comments below!
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