He does have that elusive title on his resume. Something we cant say about Andy. But I don’t think people know what Tomlin brings to the table because his championship team plays the game exactly like Cowher’s teams played. Heavy on the run, QB manages game, Defense beats you into the ground. That is not Mike Tomlin football. It is STEELER football. This has been their legacy for over 30 years. I beleive Tomlin does have his troops ready, but there are so many veterans on that squad that would not let the team be unprepared because of a bad coach. To me, Tomlin has brought nothing unique to the table. He still has no true identity as a coach, which is not say he won’t someday.

I think what led this Steeler team to a Super Bowl was the Steelers Defensive coorinator Dick Lebeau. Hes the one who built the number 1 ranked Defense in the NFL. I also think the Steelers organization as a whole, assistant coach’s, scouts, and upper management, put the franchise in position to win every year. The players that are Steelers wear the uniform with pride. Tomlin is just the right guy in the right spot at the right time.

You are right that the Steelers are a team full of leaders, from Super Bowl proven players to a great coaching staff. And yes, Cowher built this team.

But to completely write off Tomlin and say that he doesn’t deserve praise is a little overboard. All that is asked of Tomlin is that he puts his players in a position to be successful, and they go out and do it. He has done exactly that, and has been the consummate leader and professional since being hired in 2007, and his troops follow suit. He is only 35 and the verdict is still out about his ability to out-coach the best, but the man put together a championship run with a team that people questioned from a lot of different angles throughout the entire 2008 season. I am merely giving the man the respect a Super Bowl champion coach is due.