The Sports Xchange

Coaching stability remains a constant in Pittsburgh, where head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers agreed to a two-year extension through the 2018 season.

“I am pleased to announce we have extended Mike Tomlin’s contract through the 2018 season,” said Steelers president Art Rooney II. “Mike has proven he is one of the top head coaches in the National Football League, and we are confident he will continue to lead the team in our pursuit of another Super Bowl championship.”

Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher are the only other head coaches in franchise history.

Tomlin, 43, is entering his ninth season as Steelers head coach in 2015. The Steelers hired Tomlin with one season experience as Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator and had never been a head coach at any level.

He became the youngest head coach in NFL history to coach in — and ultimately the youngest to win — a Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. By winning the Super Bowl in only his second season as a head coach, he also became the fastest to win a Super Bowl title in Steelers’ history.

“I very much appreciate this contract extension, but my sole focus has been and will continue to be meeting the challenges that lie ahead for the 2015 season,” Tomlin said. “These past nine years in Pittsburgh have been a wonderful experience for my family, and I look forward to pursuing what is the Steelers’ goal every year – bringing another Super Bowl championship to the City of Pittsburgh.”

In Tomlin’s eight seasons as head coach, the Steelers have a 82-46 (.641) regular-season record, the best start in franchise history by a Steelers head coach. He has led Pittsburgh to four AFC North titles, five playoff appearances and two Super Bowl berths (XLIII and XLV).

Tomlin has won at least five home games in each of his first eight seasons, and his 47 regular-season home victories during that span are the fourth-most in the NFL. Steelers’ players have earned 45 selections to the Pro Bowl since Tomlin became head coach in 2007.