“Man, this has been a whirlwind.” This was Mike Tomlin‘s response when asked by Fox Sports presenter Erin Andrews during a recent interaction. Erin has been in the headlines this week for several reasons. She experienced a wardrobe malfunction during halftime at a recent game she covered, and there was also some buzz about drama related to ‘baddie’ comments about her. However, in the context of her interview with Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the focus was different.

The Steelers head coach recently sat down with Erin Andrews for an interview, where he shared insights and experiences from his remarkable 18-year career with the team. Overwhelmed by the opportunity, Erin later posted a reel on Instagram, captioned: “Pinch me moment. One of the coolest moments of my career. Thank you, Mike Tomlin, for even considering doing this.”

It was part one of a larger interview and explored Mike’s thoughts, experiences, and lessons learned throughout his career. So, when Erin asked him how he reflects on his 18 years with the Steelers—whether it feels like the years have flown by or dragged on—Tomlin immediately replied, “Man, this has been a whirlwind. The challenges are intense and ever-changing. I think, for those reasons, you never get stale. All the time flies.”

In the teaser-like reel, Erin could be seen asking intriguing questions such as, “What’s the biggest challenge now compared to 18 years ago?” and “How does the coach celebrate with the team—maybe even throw in some dance moves?” Erin considers the interview an honor. In a recent Instagram story, she wrote, “Grateful for moments like these! Words of wisdom from the BEST, Mike Tomlin.”

For Tomlin, these 18 years have been a testament to hard work and success. One of his major achievements is ranking third for the most consecutive non-losing seasons in NFL history. Through this candid interview with one of the league’s top sideline reporters, Tomlin opened up about many aspects of his journey. In simple terms, it has been a grind.

Tomlin’s 18-Year grind with the Steelers

As Mike Tomlin shared during his conversation with Erin Andrews, his focus has always been on making the Steelers great. In his first season with the team in 2007, the Steelers competed for the AFC North Division Championship and finished with a 10-6 record. Fast forward to the current season, and the Steelers are leading the AFC North with a 10-3 record.

Tomlin’s words during the interview reflect his mindset. His unwavering dedication and close relationship with the team set him apart. In a past comment about coaching, Tomlin explained: “I love to hear coaches resist the responsibility of coaching, ’cause they’re easy to beat. They talk negatively about a dude, ‘he can’t learn.’ Man, if everybody could learn, we’d need fewer coaches.”

This season marks Tomlin’s 18th consecutive non-losing season leading the Steelers. With their recent victory over the Browns, the Steelers secured their 10th win of the season and are now preparing for a matchup against the Eagles. The team is edging closer to securing a spot in the playoffs.