The Steelers hired Mike Tomlin to replace the retired Bill Cowher today.  Tomlin is only the third head coach that the Steelers have hired in 38 seasons.  He has no experience as a head coach at any level of football, but he has alot of coaching experience for a man in his 30′s.  He was a position coach in college from 1995-2000.  He then was the defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2001-2005.  Last season Tomlin was the defensive co-ordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and he did a fine job.  The Vikings had the best run defense in the NFL as they only allowed 61.6 yards rushing per game and an amazing 2.8 yards per carry!  They also allowed 238.6 net yards passing per game but only a 73.1 QB Rating against which is pretty darn good.

Tomlin favors a 4-3 defense but the Steelers’ personnel dictates that they run a 3-4.  Tomlin did retain Dick LeBeau as his defensive co-ordinator so the Steelers might keep the 3-4 defense for now.  OL coach Russ Grimm will leave the Steelers after getting passed over for the head coaching job.

Tomlin will be the first black coach in the history of the Steelers which is fitting because of the Rooney Rule.