Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin before the AFC wild-card game against the Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Jan. 12. | Imagn Images / via Reuters

Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said the timing was right for both him and the organization when he stepped down after 19 ⁠seasons without a losing record.

Tomlin, who guided the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII in the 2008 season, told NBC on Sunday night in his first interview since resigning in January that the lack of postseason success — no playoff wins since 2016 — figured into what was a difficult decision.

"You know, it's probably not an overnight decision," said Tomlin, 54. "It's probably not ​something that I could articulate or share with people. There's a loneliness with leadership.

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