Did Mike Tomlin Play In the NFL?

Mike Tomlin is one of the most successful coaches in the NFL today. But many people don’t know that he actually played in the league for a short time.

Mike Tomlin’s Early Life

Mike Tomlin was born on March 15, 1972, in Hampton, Virginia. Tomlin’s father, Ed Tomlin, played football at the University of Richmond. His mother, Barbara, was a high school teacher and track coach. Mike Tomlin has one sister, Tiffany Tomlin-Anderson, who is an attorney. Tomlin was raised in Denbigh, Virginia, and attended Denbigh High School, where he played football and basketball.

Born in Hampton, Virginia

Mike Tomlin was born Michael Palmer Tomlin on March 15, 1972, in Hampton, Virginia. He was the middle child of Julia (née Steele) and James Ernest Tomlin. His mother was a high school teacher and his father a technician for the United States Air Force. Raised in a single-parent household by his mother, Tomlin attended Denbigh High School in Newport News, Virginia. He played quarterback and safety for the football team, and also competed as a sprinter on the track & field team. Upon graduating high school in 1990, he enrolled at William & Mary where he played defensive back and wide receiver for four years while earning a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

Grew up in Denbigh, Virginia

Thomas Michael Tomlin was born on March 15, 1972, in Hampton, Virginia. He was raised in the pouring rain of Denbigh, Virginia by his mother Barbra. As Barbra worked long hours as a nurse to support the family, Mike had to grow up quickly and learn how to take care of himself. This experience taught him how to be independent and instilled a strong work ethic in him at a young age.

Mike Tomlin attended Denbigh High School where he played football, basketball, and ran track. He was a star athlete and was even offered a full scholarship to play college football at the University of Memphis. However, Tomlin decided to forgo his college football career and instead enrolled at William & Mary where he could get a good education and play football at the Division I-AA level.

Mike Tomlin’s College Career

Mike Tomlin, born in 1972, is an African American head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at the University of Memphis.

University of Memphis

Mike Tomlin played college football for the University of Memphis from 1991 to 1995. He was a four-year starter at defensive back and was named first-team All-Conference USA as a senior. Tomlin finished his career with eight interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Won the Conference USA Championship

In his first year as a starter, Tomlin led the Conference USA in tackles and won the Conference USA Championship.

Mike Tomlin’s NFL Career

Mike Tomlin played wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL for four seasons. He then transitioned into coaching, and is currently the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings

Mike Tomlin was drafted in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings in the 5th round as the 134th pick. He played collegiately at William & Mary. In his three years with the Vikings, he had one interception.

Played for the Cleveland Browns

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Tomlin (born March 15, 1972) is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He is one of three African American coaches in NFL history to win a Super Bowl, and he has led the Steelers to nine playoff berths since he became head coach in 2007. He played college football at William & Mary.

Tomlin was hired by the Minnesota Vikings as their defensive coordinator in 2006 after four seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Cincinnati. The following year, Tomlin was hired as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. In his second season as head coach, Tomlin led the team to a victory in Super Bowl XLIII over the Arizona Cardinals. With that win, Tomlin became only the third African American never to have played professional football to win a Super Bowl as a head coach, joining Tony Dungy and Art Shell.[1]

Tomlin has also led the Steelers to AFC North division championships in 2008 and 2010.

Coached the Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Tomlin is an American football coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He is the first African-American head coach in franchise history, as well as the 17th head coach since the team’s founding in 1933. Prior to working for the Steelers, he was the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006 to 2007.