Mike Tomlin is an old soul.
The Pittsburgh Steelers coach believes in the idea of “servant leadership,” which dates back 25 centuries ago to China, where the highest form of ruler was one people barely noticed. It wasn’t one who was beloved or feared but one who succeeded by building on followers’ strengths.
Former coach Tony Dungy popularized servant leadership with the Indianapolis Colts during his Super Bowl XLI championship. Tomlin is the latest disciple.
“Professionally, [Dungy] subscribes to servant leadership, as do I,” Tomlin said. “I think that is the most striking similarity [between us.]”
Can Tomlin turn NFL coaches into kinder, gentler souls — the type who won’t force reluctant star defensive linemen into playing a 3-4 scheme? If the Steelers win their second Super Bowl in three years over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the feel-good system may be copied leaguewide.
“Coach is a lot of fun to play for,” Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “You know he’s a player coach, and you know he’s a good motivator who doesn’t try to give you that ‘Win one for the Gipper’ speech. He knows how to let us motivate ourselves and be professionals.”
A former William & Mary wide receiver who coached at four colleges before joining Dungy’s Tampa Bay staff in 2001, Tomlin is still a whiz kid. The youngest coach to win a Super Bowl at age 36, Tomlin could have a second ring before many contemporaries earn their first head coaching jobs.
“I am very conscious of the legacy that is the Pittsburgh Steelers,” he said. “I simply want to add to it. That drives me on a daily basis. I have big respect for the men who had this job before me.”
Basically, Tomlin knew not to mess up a good team when he replaced Bill Cowher in 2007.
“It’s not broken, so I wasn’t going to try to fix it,” Tomlin said. “It’s sound. It’s time-tested, and it’s proven. These are lonely jobs. My job is to lead these men, provide direction and a compass for them, and I take pride in doing that.”
Tomlin was a surprise selection over two Steelers assistants. His resume consisted of one season as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator — a season in which the Vikings were first against the run and last vs. the pass.
“The Mike Tomlin pick, it came out of left field. Nobody expected that. We thought they were going to hire within, probably Russ [Grimm],” Steelers receiver Hines Ward said. “That’s what a lot of players thought. When they named Mike Tomlin, a lot of people really didn’t know Mike Tomlin. When he first got here he was very militant. I remember [Tomlin] making guys wear certain things. They were some veteran guys that challenged his authority, and they’re no longer here. At the same time, the guys that he kept we bought into his belief.”
Tomlin has a belief in servant leadership that lets players be themselves. He defended his players partying around Dallas in recent days, saying they do eat dinner.
Sounds like someone worth following.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has ?covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
