Steelers extend contract of Coach Mike Tomlin

[Auggie]

espn.com / July 13, 2010

Mike Tomlin erased any doubts he could follow in the footsteps of Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher when he led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory in his second year. Now, Pittsburgh has reportedly rewarded the coach with a three-year contract extension, despite missing the playoffs in 2009.

The Steelers have agreed to a three-year extension with Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday. The newspaper reported that financial terms were not known.

SNIP

Tomlin's current contract, which averaged $2.5 million annually, had one season and an option year remaining.

In 2009, the Steelers finished 9-7, losing five in a row and missing the playoffs a season after winning the Super Bowl -- the first champion to miss out on the following postseason since the Steelers themselves in 2006. The Steelers have had just three coaches in the last 41 years: Noll (23 seasons and four Super Bowl victories), Cowher (15 seasons and one Super Bowl win) and Tomlin (three and one).

LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5375448