Mike Tomlin’s letter of retirement

 

 

 

 

 

I have had the honor and privilege of being a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers family and team for the past 32 seasons. I didn’t take this chance lightly at all. It’s unique to be a member of one of professional sports’ most illustrious teams. In the last thirty years, I have only had three head coaches: future Hall of Fame coach Mike Tomlin, and Hall of Fame coaches Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher. During my time with the team, I also worked with a number of special assistant coaches. And I’ll never forget the innumerable athletes I worked with—both Hall of Famers and athletes who came to tryout for us for a few days. There are so many wonderful memories and experiences. Thirty training camps at Saint Vincent College, two Super Bowl parades, four Super Bowls, and over 600 games!

I am grateful to the Rooney family for believing in a 1991 Penn State graduate who was employed at Nashville, Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University. I’ve had the good fortune to work for the National Football League’s best ownership. Tom Donahoe was the Director of Football Operations when I started out, and Kevin Colbert was my boss afterwards. These are both excellent people who have shaped the team. And thanks to Omar Khan and his staff’s guidance and supervision, this squad is performing well.

The Steelers are special because of the individuals that work here. from the business office, scouting, community relations, content team, media relations, and every member of the support staff. They are all decent individuals with a love of victory in common. And that’s just the team at our training center. More people are members of this fantastic team at North Shore offices and Acrisure Stadium.

The medical personnel are the only group I really feel compelled to mention. I could never have survived 32 years with the Steelers without them. His colleagues in the NFL and around the nation hold Dr. Jim Bradley in high regard. He is the greatest orthopedist I have ever seen and a true ally of certified athletic trainers. Additionally noteworthy are Tony Yates, Joe Maroon, Mark Duca, and Craig Mauro. Additionally, the team will benefit from the expertise of professional physicians who have just joined Aaron Mares and David Okonkwo for years to come. The doctors on the Steelers are among the best in the NFL, and I am grateful for many more doctors that I did not list.

There is more to sports medicine than just doctors and athletic trainers. I have to give a shoutout to some amazing strength trainers that collaborate with us. Chet Fuhrman, Rodain Delus, Marcel Pastoor, and Garrett Giemont are all real pros. We appreciate your assistance in providing the best, properly fitting protective gear for those injured, Adam Regan, Pat Noone, Rodgers Freyvogel, and HOFer Tony Parisi, among other members of our equipment crew. We are grateful to Bob McCartney and the rest of the video staff for identifying those injuries so we could learn more about them and maybe better safeguard our athletes going forward. I would also like to acknowledge the following individuals who have contributed significantly to the Steelers Sports Medicine Staff: our massage therapist Dave Sanctis, our team dentist Rick Gottlieb, our sports nutritionist Kim Schwabenbauer, the personnel that staffs the training tables and cafeteria, and Brad Klueber, our 20-year-old chiropractor.

Thank you to Steelers Nation as well. I shall miss the games in the autumn, especially when the team takes the field at Acrisure Stadium and I can hear the fans yell and see the sea of awful towels spinning about. I promise you that I will always remember the atmosphere you brought to Three Rivers Stadium, Heinz Field, Acrisure Stadium, and most away games over the last 32 seasons. Pittsburgh is a long distance from Steelers Nation. We are grateful for your love and support!

Lastly, my family deserves my gratitude. Throughout the season, especially, my wife Emily went above and beyond in parenting Erin, Nick, and Luke. She was a constant source of support. I will always call Pittsburgh home since that is where our family was formed. And come autumn, you can depend on me to wave my Terrible Towel—whether as a Steelers Nation member in my living room or as a spectator in the stands.