Tomlin breaks silence: 'An honor' to coach Steelers for 19 seasons

Mike Tomlin spoke publicly for the first time since his surprising resignation as Pittsburgh Steelers head coach in January, expressing appreciation for the organization and community he called home for 19 years.

"It's often said we're not here for a long time, we're here for a good time, like you have to choose," Tomlin said Thursday as he and his wife accepted a community impact award at The Ireland Funds Pittsburgh Gala, according to Steelers Ireland. "I think our experience here in Pittsburgh and with the great Steelers organization exemplifies that; we were here for a long and really good time."

Tomlin tied Chuck Noll for the most wins by a head coach in Steelers franchise history with 193. The Steelers made the playoffs 13 times during his tenure and won one Super Bowl. The team famously never finished below .500 in any of Tomlin's 19 seasons.

"It's been an honor to serve the greatest organization in sports," Tomlin told the crowd. "It's been an honor to be a part of this great community, to call it home, for our kids to call it home. We're in somewhat of a nomadic business, and so we don't take that for granted, that our kids get an opportunity to call Pittsburgh home.

"It's been an honor to serve the community in which we live, its values that we hold, and it will continue. We appreciate the recognition, but as my wife said, we certainly don't do it for that. We've been extremely blessed and we'd just like to share those blessings. We thank you."

Pittsburgh's last playoff victory under Tomlin was a divisional-round win in January 2017. The Steelers have lost seven straight playoff games and went one-and-done in in each of their last six trips to the postseason.

The Steelers tabbed former Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy as Tomlin's successor.