MARTIN, Tenn. - Former Tennessee-Martin assistant coach Mike Tomlin was named the 16th head coach of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. Most recently Tomlin served as the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings.
Tomlin's defense in Minnesota was the best in the NFL against the run in 2006, allowing just 61.6 yards per game, but tied with Cincinnati for last against the pass, allowing 238.6 yards per game through the air.
NFL.com reported Tomlin accepted the Pittsburgh job Sunday night and the hiring was announced Monday, with the contract to be completed later in the day. He was negotiating a four-year contract expected to pay him about $2.5 million a year.
Tomlin, the team's third coach in 38 years, was hired on the same day two black coaches made the Super Bowl for the first time: Lovie Smith in Chicago and Tony Dungy in Indianapolis.
Tomlin, from Hampton, Va., was a wide receiver at William & Mary, where he caught 20 touchdown passes during his career. He later coached at VMI, Memphis, Tennessee-Martin, Arkansas State and Cincinnati before being hired as a Tampa Bay assistant.
Tomlin served as an assistant coach at Tennessee-Martin for Jim Marshall during the 1997 season.
The hiring is the second high profile NFL job a former UT Martin coach has been named to in recent weeks. Former Skyhawk player and coach Jerry Reese was named general manager of the New York Giants on Jan. 15.