HAMPTON — Though he’s into his 40s now (and still looks like Omar Epps), Mike Tomlin has become a long-timer in his profession. Digest this with your morning coffee: Of the 32 head coaches in the NFL, only four have been with their current job longer than Tomlin.
Which brings a chuckle from Tomlin, who is going into his ninth season in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I’ve been in the business long enough not to be surprised by much,” said Tomlin, in town headlining the 19th annual Hampton Roads All-Star Football Camp. “I think the longer I do this, there’s a legitimate challenge to maintain the sense of urgency to meet the challenge each year holds.
“That’s something I’m growing to appreciate and embrace. But other than that, I just try to put one foot in front of the other and really enjoy it.”
It’s not hard to enjoy winning. In Tomlin’s eight seasons, the Steelers have never had a losing record. They’ve made the playoffs four times, the Super Bowl twice. And in February 2009, he became the youngest coach ever to win the Lombardi Trophy.
No NFL franchise is more storied than the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tomlin has become a significant part of that. But even so, he still makes it a point every summer to come back to Hampton Roads for the all-star camp.
After all, it’s home. His alma maters are Denbigh (1990) and William and Mary (’95).
“Football has been a blessing to me and all who work this camp, and to have an opportunity to come back and share those blessings with the next generation and maybe encourage or inspire them, that’s what we’re hunting,” he said. “Whether or not football is their passion, like it is for us, really is irrelevant. We just want to encourage these guys to live out their dreams and chase them.
“You know the importance of athletics in this community. To have an opportunity to come back and give to the next generation, which will represent us, is really neat.”
There’s even a 757 presence on his roster going into training camp. Phoebus High and Clemson graduate Tajh Boyd has a chance to win a spot as the Steelers’ third-string quarterback. B.W. Webb (Warwick High, William and Mary) has a shot at cornerback.
Other Steelers from the area include safety Shamarko Thomas (Ocean Lakes High and Syracuse) and linebacker Arthur Moats (Churchland High and James Madison).
“We’ve got five preseason games, and I think particularly for guys like Tajh and B.W., it’s big,” Tomlin said. “It gives them opportunities to make a case for themselves.
“I get kidded quite a bit at work about my affinity for Hampton Roads guys. But I don’t hide from it.”
Training camp begins July 26, and as always, there are questions. The biggest one for the Steelers might be the change in defensive coordinators — Keith Butler, formerly the linebackers coach, replaced Dick LeBeau. Also different will be the absence of Troy Polamalu, the future Hall of Famer who retired after last season.
“We’ll miss Troy the man more than Troy the player,” Tomlin said. “I’m not worried about plays because plays are going to be made. Guys will get an opportunity to ascend within the group, and to be honest with you, we expect them to perform well.
“In some ways we’ll be different (defensively), and in some ways we’ll be the same. Keith worked a long time with Dick, so they share some common philosophies. But he’s also his own man, and that’s something I’m excited about as well.”
Johnson can be reached at 757-247-4649.
