PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin remains “on go” in Pittsburgh.

Both in 2024 and likely beyond.

The NFL’s longest-tenured head coach said Thursday he plans on returning to the Steelers for an 18th season, brushing aside speculation that he was on the cusp of burning out and considering taking a step back.

Tomlin shook his head and chuckled “no” when asked if he told anyone he needed a break, saying his passion for his job has only intensified the deeper he gets into a career that includes a Super Bowl ring, but also a playoff-win drought that sits at seven years and counting following a 31-17 loss to Buffalo in the opening round on Monday.

The Steelers finished 10-8 in Tomlin’s 17 seasons and have never finished below .500 since he took over for Bill Cowher in January 2007.

Yet Pittsburgh has also been stuck on a treadmill of sorts since reaching the AFC title game in 2016, a stretch that includes five seasons of somewhere between 8 to 10 wins and four quick playoff exits.

While Tomlin believes the Steelers have closed the gap on the teams playing in the divisional round this weekend, he also allowed it doesn’t matter.

“It all sucks, it does,” Tomlin said. “It’s not degrees of suck. It all sucks. I’d rather be working.”

Instead, Tomlin will spend the coming weeks interviewing for an offensive coordinator — a candidate he said will come from outside the organization — and start prepping for the NFL draft and free agency.

Tomlin is entering the final year of a contract extension he signed in 2021. He stormed off rather than answer when asked about it moments after the Steelers fell to the Bills. Three days removed, Tomlin admitted “I could have handled the situation better than I did” but added he felt that wasn’t the time or the place to discuss his future.

A future that will be in Pittsburgh. He declined to get into specifics on whether he will seek a multi-year deal from team president Art Rooney II, but also isn’t concerned about the length (or lack thereof) of a new contract being any sort of sticking point.

“I imagine it is going to get done in a timely manner at the appropriate time,” Tomlin said. “But my mindset is to coach this football team, certainly.”

Tomlin’s goal remains to help the Steelers figure out a way to win another championship.