Eighteen seasons, 40 conferences, two Tremendous Bowl wins and the best NFL rivalry this century.
That is what Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh shared collectively for the higher a part of twenty years as head coaches of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
However within the house of simply over per week, that iconic rivalry was slammed shut within the newest proof of how cut-throat being an expert sports activities coach may be.
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John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin shake arms earlier than their ultimate assembly. Getty
And simply as their careers have been intertwined underneath the intense lights all these years, their respective exits will probably be eternally linked collectively as nicely.
Within the week 18 match on December 5 (AEDT), which acted because the common season finale, Baltimore and Pittsburgh have been enjoying one another for the final spot within the NFL playoffs.
A win for both aspect would ship them into the post-season, whereas a loss would ship them on an end-of-year vacation and months of query marks for the long run.
As has been the case on so many events, the newest battle between the Steelers and Ravens went right down to the wire and actually the final play of the season.
Ravens kicker Tyler Loop had a shot to ice a regulation field-goal to make it 27-26, however the rookie sprayed it vast and the Steelers held on for the 26-24 victory.
It was, with out query, one of many wildest ends to an NFL season in current reminiscence.
Aaron Rodgers celebrates after Pittsburgh’s slim win over Baltimore. Twitter/Getty
Simply in the future later, Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens after ending 8-9 and lacking the playoffs for simply the sixth time in his 18 seasons in cost.
The jubilation from the Steelers’ aspect of issues was evident and there was perception constructing that Aaron Rodgers was about to steer them in the direction of a Tremendous Bowl run.
That was till they met a rampaging Houston Texans outfit on Tuesday, whose defence mauled the Steelers on their residence turf in a demoralising 30-6 loss.
It marked a seventh-straight loss for Tomlin within the playoffs – equal with the undesirable NFL document – with strain mounting on him to stay as coach.
Lower than 24 hours after the loss, Tomlin stepped down from his place, actually signalling the top of an period for the Steelers, Ravens and AFC North division.
His departure will see Pittsburgh go into the 2026 marketing campaign with simply their fourth coach in 55 years after Tomlin, Invoice Cowher and Chuck Noll all loved prolonged stays.
For 2 coaches to carry head teaching jobs within the fashionable period for 18 and 19 seasons respectively isn’t any imply feat – however to do it towards one another, enjoying twice a yr in one of many league’s fiercest divisions, is maybe much more spectacular.
Regardless of the extreme rivalry between the 2 groups and fanbases, which has been constructed on physicality, ruthlessness and at occasions real hatred, Tomlin and Harbaugh constructed up a real degree of respect for one another – the sort solely solid via battle.
A healthful second between the pair late of their careers with the Steelers and Ravens actually summed up how lengthy they’d been going head-to-head.
“We have been in a bunch of those you and I, have not we? I keep in mind one time sitting and speaking about what our youngsters have been for Halloween and them rattling youngsters grown (now),” Tomlin mentioned.
Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh in 2009. Getty
The 2 males are worlds aside on the subject of their personalities.
Harbaugh is a slightly mildly-spoken, religious Christian who typically used his religion to encourage gamers, in addition to being an ideal strategical soccer thoughts with deep roots and household connection to the game, together with his brother Jim additionally an amazing coach.
Tomlin then again is a wildly charismatic and intensely blunt man-manager who is rarely afraid to mince his phrases – whether or not or not it’s to his gamers or the media.
His iconic one-liners or Tomlinisms have gone viral frequently over time, from the hilarious “do not blink or I am going to lower your eyelids off” and “there is a nice line between consuming wine and stomping grapes” to his ultra-emphatic “the usual is the usual” quote that turned synonymous together with his latter years on the helm in Pittsburgh.
Even after the dramatic week 18 win relating to Baltimore’s missed subject aim that saved the Steelers’ season, Tomlin managed to ship one ultimate traditional.
“You know the way it’s – if my aunt had male elements, she’d be my uncle,” he mentioned.
However for all their evident variations, what each Tomlin and Harbaugh did share on the NFL stage was unbridled ardour for the sport that few may dream of matching.
The pair bow out with large particular person information that stack up towards the greats.
Tomlin accomplished his 19 seasons with Pittsburgh having by no means completed with a dropping document – a fully ridiculous statistic that will probably be arduous to ever replicate – whereas additionally tasting Tremendous Bowl glory in 2009 and successful eight AFC North titles.
Harbaugh received a Tremendous Bowl in 2013 and received six AFC North titles in a incredible interval for the franchise.
Within the head-to-head rivalry, Tomlin completed with the sting over Harbaugh, having received 23 matches with the Steelers in comparison with the Ravens with 17 in that interval.
Within the playoffs, Tomlin and Harbaugh cut up the sweets with two wins apiece.
Of the 40 video games between the 2 groups throughout that timeframe, 30 have been determined by one rating (eight factors) and 20 have been determined by a subject aim (three factors) or much less.
Whereas there are many coaches who’ve constructed unimaginable resumes and have been at their present groups for some time – Andy Reid (12 seasons with the Chiefs), Sean McVay (eight seasons with the Rams) and Kyle Shanahan (eight seasons with the 49ers) amongst them – the Tomlin and Harbaugh tenures and rivalry is unlikely to ever be replicated.
The very fact there have been seven head coaches both fired or give up because the common season completed lower than a fortnight in the past – plus one other seven groups who welcomed rookie head coaches in 2025 – proves the anomalies that have been Tomlin and Harbaugh.
There are Steelers and Ravens followers internationally who’ve grown up not understanding a world with out Tomlin and Harbaugh teaching their groups.
It introduced a way of consolation, that it doesn’t matter what else was occurring within the NFL or on this planet at any given time, these two beloved coaches could be face-to-face.
Whereas many watching on will probably be comfortable to see a brand new period ushered in for his or her groups, the chances are the NFL won’t ever witness one thing prefer it once more.
Tomlin and Harbaugh. Pittsburgh and Baltimore. A rivalry for the ages.
