PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin appreciates the opportunity he's getting as one of three finalists for the Pittsburgh Steelers' coaching job. To him, no former assistant to Tony Dungy could feel any differently.

The Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator had his second interview Tuesday with the Steelers, a day before Steelers assistant head coach Russ Grimm talks to the team again. Chicago defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, the third finalist, can't meet with them again until the Bears' season ends.

Tomlin, at 34, is the same age Bill Cowher was before the Steelers hired him in 1992. He hopes that is more than a coincidence, although he has been an NFL coordinator only one season.

"Those that support me make sure that I understand that," Tomlin said after the meeting ended Tuesday night. "But they're looking for a football coach. That's what I consider myself. My age is my age."

Tomlin is a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive backs coach and calls himself a disciple of Dungy, the former Steelers player and Bucs coach who has Indianapolis in the AFC championship game.

"It's humbling," Tomlin said. "These are great football people. I've got a great deal of respect for what they do and what they've done. It's just a very humbling experience to be involved in but, at the same time, professional football is what I do and I'm a competitor like everyone else."

Much of Dungy's defense came from the Steelers when he played for coach Chuck Noll in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

"If you listen to coach Dungy, he'll remind you of that," Tomlin said.

Tomlin knows that Grimm is considered the front-runner, especially now that former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt has been hired as the Arizona Cardinals' coach. Whisenhunt was hired by the Cardinals on Sunday without knowing if he would have been offered the Steelers' job.

In two long interviews with Steelers owner Dan Rooney, president Art Rooney II and director of football operations Kevin Colbert, Tomlin began to understand what they want from the man whom will be only their third coach in 38 years.

"I think regardless of who they hire to be the head coach, they expect them to lead, and part of leading is being prepared to do things that you feel strongly about," Tomlin said. "So I'm no different from anyone else in that regard."