The Pittsburgh Steelers can justify elevating Mike Tomlin into the elite club of highest-paid NFL coaches. He wins 64 percent of his games, he's never had a losing season, he has a winning playoff record (5-4). He provides stability, which is a hallmark for a franchise going on its third coach in nearly five decades. They thrive off stability.
But the commitment -- and the money -- from the Rooneys speaks loudly. It basically says, "Let's go ahead and grab another championship sooner than later."
A source told ESPN that Tomlin is set to make at least $7 million, placing him among the top 3-5 highest-paid coaches. Bill Belichick, Sean Payton and Pete Carroll all make $7.5 million or more, according to reports. It's safe to say Tomlin is either in that club or just outside of it.
Those three coaches have won three of the last six Super Bowls. Tomlin's last one came seven seasons ago, which isn't to say he doesn't belong with that crew, but rather to remind that a dip back in the Super Bowl water would punctuate the reason both sides did this extension in the first place.
"We are confident he will continue to lead the team in our pursuit of another Super Bowl championship," team president Art Rooney II said in a statement.
"I look forward to pursuing what is the Steelers' goal every year -- bringing another Super Bowl championship to the city of Pittsburgh," Tomlin said.
No one is mincing words here. Everything is clear-cut: Both parties are extending this marriage to 2018 for one reason.
The convenient narrative after Tomlin's title in 2008-09 was he won with Cowher's team. This isn't college football recruiting. Winning playoff games is difficult with any roster. If Tomlin wins a second Super Bowl, no one can question his imprint on the pursuit. He's giving his defense a face-lift, injecting youth and playmaking at the potential risk of a painful transition. He's helped the Steelers draft well, especially on offense, giving Ben Roethlisberger the best supporting cast he's had.
Tomlin is under contract until at least 2018, meaning his place in Steelers' folklore will be well-defined by then. He will have easily reach 100 wins. He can do more than that, and he seems to know it. Expectations couldn't be higher for a team that went 8-8 in both 2012 and 2013.
Tomlin has a chance to earn every dollar, and more.
Source: Steelers' Mike Tomlin making championship money to match expectations
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