The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL in Mike Tomlin. This became true after the 2023 season, when Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways. Belichick now is an analyst and makes many appearances on TV, and it is interesting to hear his opinions about certain situations and games happening around the NFL. He was a long-time foe of Pittsburgh as he led the powerhouse that was the Patriots, but now he is able to publicly discuss Tomlin's tactics and what makes him so successful.
This is the first season that Belichick isn't on a coaching staff since the 1974 season, and he has really embraced his role as a TV personality. He is the complete opposite of his stone-cold sideline demeanor, and his insight has been fresh and eye-opening for fans. On a recent episode of Inside The NFL, Belichick spoke about how the Steelers find ways to win games under Tomlin. He shared that the coach’s game plan never changes, and Pittsburgh has always been consistent in how they win games.
"Mike Tomlin game-plans the same every week, doesn't matter who the quarterback was and what year it is. Play good defense, don't turn the ball over, try to get the running game going, but play good field position, make him drive it against that defense, don't give up many points and win. I don't want to say win ugly, but win."
Belichick and Tomlin had their fair share of matchups as soon as Tomlin was named the head coach in Pittsburgh ahead of the 2007 season. The two franchises were consistently near the top of the AFC, and even met in the AFC Championship Game at the end of the 2016 season. Belichick typically got the better of Tomlin, but the two have been some of the most respected coaches in the league over the last two decades.
Belichick's analysis of Tomlin's game plan isn't wrong. It's the reason Pittsburgh has still been able to win games with below-average quarterback play over the last couple of seasons. Don't turn the ball over, get takeaways, and try to win the field position battle. This was the exact formula Pittsburgh used in a Week 1 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
This doesn't always work for Tomlin. It's the reason Pittsburgh can't survive once they meet up with the more high-powered offenses in the playoffs. They can't keep up with teams like the Kansas City Chiefs or the old Patriots. Especially if they turn the ball over or struggle in the other two phases of the game. It's hard to rely on your defense as much as Tomlin does when they are going up against guys like Patrick Mahomes or Tom Brady.
The fact Tomlin never changes this game plan could be concerning. It's easy to see through, and opponents are able to figure out ways to counter it.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin Has Struggled Against Bill Belichick
Tomlin has a 3-9 record when facing the Patriots as a head coach. The most recent loss came during the 2023 season, in a game the Steelers should have won. Pittsburgh wound up being nearly blown out by New England, and a last chance comeback effort fell short.
Belichick and Brady kept the Steelers from earning some more hardware. The Patriots were at the top of the AFC for basically the entire 2000s and 2010s. They won six Super Bowls while the Steelers were also considered to be contenders, meanwhile Pittsburgh was only able to claim two Lombardi Trophies. Tomlin's lack of recent postseason success has been called into question, and maybe a change to this consistent game plan of his would help him break his horrific postseason losing streak.
