Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh end storied teaching rivalry with Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens

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 knowledgeable sports activities coach will be.

John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin shake fingers earlier than their last assembly. Getty

And simply as their careers had been intertwined below the brilliant lights all these years, their respective exits can be ceaselessly linked collectively as properly.

Within the week 18 match on December 5 (AEDT), which acted because the common season finale, Baltimore and Pittsburgh had been taking part in 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 longer term.

As has been the case on so many events, the most recent battle between the Steelers and Ravens went all the way 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 huge 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 slender 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 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 dwelling turf in a demoralising 30-6 loss.

It marked a seventh-straight loss for Tomlin within the playoffs – equal with the undesirable NFL report – with stress mounting on him to stay as coach.

Lower than 24 hours after the loss, Tomlin stepped down from his place, actually signalling the tip 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, taking part in twice a yr in one of many league’s fiercest divisions, is maybe much more spectacular.

Regardless of the extraordinary rivalry between the 2 groups and fanbases, which has been constructed on physicality, ruthlessness and at instances real hatred, Tomlin and Harbaugh constructed up a real stage of respect for one another – the kind solely cast by way of battle.

A healthful second between the pair late of their careers with the Steelers and Ravens actually summed up how lengthy that they had 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 had been for Halloween and them rattling children grown (now),” Tomlin stated.

Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh in 2009. Getty

The 2 males are worlds aside with regards to their personalities.

Harbaugh is a moderately mildly-spoken, religious Christian who typically used his religion to encourage gamers, in addition to being a fantastic strategical soccer thoughts with deep roots and household connection to the game, together with his brother Jim additionally an incredible coach.

Tomlin alternatively is a wildly charismatic and intensely blunt man-manager who isn’t 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 through the years, from the hilarious “do not blink or I am going to lower your eyelids off” and “there is a positive line between ingesting 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 concerning Baltimore’s missed area aim that saved the Steelers’ season, Tomlin managed to ship one last basic.

“You know the way it’s – if my aunt had male components, she’d be my uncle,” he stated.

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 data that stack up towards the greats.

Tomlin accomplished his 19 seasons with Pittsburgh having by no means completed with a dropping report – a completely ridiculous statistic that can be arduous to ever replicate – whereas additionally tasting Tremendous Bowl glory in 2009 and profitable eight AFC North titles.

Harbaugh gained a Tremendous Bowl in 2013 and gained six AFC North titles in a implausible interval for the franchise.

Within the head-to-head rivalry, Tomlin completed with the sting over Harbaugh, having gained 23 matches with the Steelers in comparison with the Ravens with 17 in that interval.

Within the playoffs, Tomlin and Harbaugh cut up the goodies with two wins apiece.

Of the 40 video games between the 2 groups throughout that time-frame, 30 had been determined by one rating (eight factors) and 20 had been determined by a area 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 for the reason that 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 had been Tomlin and Harbaugh.

There are Steelers and Ravens followers internationally who’ve grown up not figuring out 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 the planet at any given time, these two beloved coaches can be face-to-face.

Whereas many watching on can be blissful 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.