Steelers extend coach Mike Tomlin two years through 2018 season

The coaching continuity continues in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers extended Mike Tomlin's contract by two years Thursday, locking him in through the 2018 season. Tomlin has patrolled the Steel City sideline since 2007, going 87-50 (including playoffs) while taking the Steelers to two Super Bowls and winning the Lombardi Trophy following the 2008 season. Tomlin, 36 at the time, was the youngest coach to ever win the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh has reached postseason five times in Tomlin's eight-year tenure and never finished below .500.

"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 in a statement. "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."

Since the start of the 1969 season, only Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin have coached the Steelers. All have guided the team to multiple Super Bowl berths.

Not that Tomlin takes any of it for granted.

"Things are ever-changing, that's part of NFL football," he told Paste BN Sports last month.

"I'm not really looking for things to remain the same. You're really out of place if you're looking for things to stay the same as opposed to embracing change. ... That's just the nature of our game and this business."

Tomlin, 43, also serves on the NFL's competition committee.

"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," Steelers president Art Rooney II said.

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