Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Tomlin reveals best Steelers defense he's coached

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 3/16/23

Ben Roethlisberger hosted Mike Tomlin on his podcast this week. He asked the Steelers' head coach, who is heading into his 17th season, what the best defense he has coached in Pittsburgh has been and his answer might surprise you.

"Just in terms of physicality, the '10 group," Tomlin said on "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger." "That collection of men created what we know now as the Player Safety Initiative."

Ben Roethlisberger asks Mike Tomlin what the best defense he ever coached was. His answer may surprise you.

: Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger pic.twitter.com/fSOxC6hD4j
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Both teams made it to the Super Bowl in their respective seasons. However, Tomlin's response is surprising because only one raised the Lombardi Trophy and that was the 2008 Steelers.

The 2008 Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII vs. the Cardinals 27-23 with one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history; LB James Harrison's 100-yard interception for a touchdown. The 2010 Steelers lost Super Bowl XLV vs. the Packers 31-25.

However, both defenses were incredibly similar, ranking No. 1 in a number of categories. And who are we to question Tomlin who has never had a losing season? If he says Pittsburgh's 2010 defense was the best, then the '10 group it is.

"The powers at be watched them play and they said, 'this is not good for the future of football,'" Tomlin added.

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