Mike Tomlin first entered the NFL as a defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001. After winning a Super Bowl and spending five seasons in Tampa, Tomlin was named defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings in 2006.
In 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers hired Tomlin as head coach; the rest is history.
This Sunday, Tomlin’s 6-2 Steelers travel to Washington to face the 7-2 Commanders. Tomlin will see an old friend on the other sideline: Washington head coach Dan Quinn.
When Tomlin was a senior defensive back at William & Mary in 1994, the Tribe had a new defensive line coach: Quinn. In 1995, Tomlin began his coaching career at VMI. Quinn also landed at VMI in 1995 as a defensive line coach. Like Tomlin, Quinn’s first NFL job came in 2001 with the San Francisco 49ers.
Throughout the years, the two have remained close friends. Previewing Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh, Quinn reflected on his respect for Tomlin.
“It’s so high and it really starts with Mike, and he’s somebody that I’ve known more years than half of my life,” Quinn said of his respect for the Steelers and Tomlin.
“So, my first year of coaching was Mike’s senior year of playing, and we’ve remained good friends ever since that time. We actually coached together for a year after that, his first year of coaching in my second, but he’s just somebody I admire a lot. You’ve heard me talk a lot about identity and what that looks like and I think Mike stands for that. His team stands for that. So, not many people regard higher as a coach and as a man than Mike. So, I feel the toughness of him through their team and it’s a good group.”
Tomlin remains one of the NFL’s best coaches, with a career record of 179-102-2 and one Super Bowl win as head coach.
The Commanders and Steelers are one of the NFL’s marquee matchups this weekend.