Bill Belichick’s dominance against rookie quarterbacks was well documented, but the numbers prove that Mike Tomlin is the true king at stopping first-year passers.
The longtime Steelers coach knows how to put together a defensive game plan better than anyone, and he’s gotten the better of rookie quarterbacks far more often than not. Can Jayden Daniels reverse this trend on Sunday?
Of course, most rookie quarterbacks aren’t as talented as Daniels. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner doesn’t look like a typical rookie, as he puts the Commanders at 7-2 after Washington won just four games last season. A win against Tomlin’s defense would put Daniels in an exclusive club of rookie quarterbacks.
Here’s a look at Tomlin’s record against rookie quarterbacks and which ones have gotten the better of him.
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Mike Tomlin’s record against rookie QBs
Tomlin is 25-6 (.806) in his career against rookie quarterbacks. That breaks Belichick’s record of 22-7, who suffered few hits in his final seasons as Patriots coach.
Not every rookie quarterback is as impressive as Daniels or CJ Stroud, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton. The Browns alone are responsible for a handful of Tomlin’s wins, including two losses to Colt McCoy and DeShone Kizer during their rookie campaigns.
Still, this record probably can’t be called a coincidence with such a large sample size. Any NFL quarterback will tell you that game planning for Tomlin’s uncompromisingly physical defenses has long been a challenge, and rookies — like Bo Nix, who was intercepted twice in a loss to the Steelers in Week 2 – are at a natural disadvantage. with so little experience.
Daniels is the only rookie quarterback remaining on the Steelers’ schedule, barring any surprises, and he represents an entirely different challenge for Pittsburgh than most rookies. A dynamic runner who can move the ball even when the passing game is out of rhythm, Daniels has just two interceptions in nine starts and simply doesn’t make many mistakes to opposing defenses.
Tomlin praised Daniels’ mobility before Sunday’s game, tell the journalists“It’s something to be reckoned with. It’s one of the main elements of why they are a dangerous group.”
OC Kliff Kingsbury gives Daniels plenty of safe throws to get into rhythm, but the rookie has excelled when given the opportunity to throw the ball down the field. That’s not something most first-year players can say, so the path to a 26-6 record against rookies for Tomlin will require a big overall defensive effort.
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Which rookie QBs beat Mike Tomlin?
| Season | Rookie QB | Team |
| 2007 | Troy Smith | Crows |
| 2012 | Brandon Weeden | Browns |
| 2016 | Carson Wentz | Eagles |
| 2016 | Dak Prescott | Cowboys |
| 2023 | CJ Stroud | Texans |
| 2023 | Dorian Thompson-Robinson | Browns |
Some of Tomlin’s wins against rookie quarterbacks came against the Browns, as did two of his losses. Against all odds, Brandon Weeden (2012) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (2023) won games against Tomlin in their rookie campaigns.
Commanders fans may take note that two of Tomlin’s six losses came last season, with CJ Stroud joining Thompson-Robinson in getting the better of the Steelers. This was also true in 2016, but Tomlin then had six straight unblemished years against rookies from that point on.
If Daniels gets the win against Pittsburgh and pushes the Commanders to 8-2, it’s safe to say he’ll likely fit the long-term mold of Dak Prescott or Stroud, rather than Weeden or Troy Smith.
