​Landry Jones acknowledged that his NFL journey was far from typical. Although he never became a lasting starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers, his time around Mike Tomlin gave him an appreciation for why so many players speak highly of the coach. Jones also had an unusual path to the pros, playing for Cooper Henderson at Artesia High School in New Mexico and for Bob Stoops at Oklahoma.
“My football career isn’t one that many people have had,” Jones told Chaz Wright of the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame during the ceremony. “It felt like I just got lucky to be coached by some of the greatest coaches,” Jones said, praising Tomlin as a future Hall of Fame coach in his own right.
Tomlin’s Hall of Fame case is widely considered strong, with questions only about when he might be inducted. His first year of eligibility is 2031, though the crowded field of potential entrants—Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, and Tom Coughlin among them—could keep the discussion lively for a while. Yet Tomlin’s résumé is compelling: a Super Bowl title in the franchise’s history, another Super Bowl appearance, and 19 straight seasons without a losing record. Achieving that kind of consistency is challenging in any era, especially with the Steelers’ frequent roster turnover and quarterback changes since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement.
This piece originally appeared on Steelers Wire under the SEO-friendly headline about Landry Jones acknowledging fans’ views on Mike Tomlin.