The Pittsburgh Steelers boss is the longest-serving coach in the NFL – having led the franchise since 2007 – but he insists that the same skills are required to be consistently successful in the sport.

Tomlin told Gridiron magazine: "The fundamental components of the games stay the same.

"Hard and smart wins, highly conditioned wins. It's the ultimate team game. Communication is required. Certain fundamental components of the game could never be legalised out or de-emphasised. The nuts and bolts things really, those are the things that have our attention.

"No decision happens in a vacuum. And there are multiple variables and it is all interrelated. There are complexities. I'm a puzzler who likes to do crosswords and being an NFL head coach is problem-solving."

Tomlin explained that he and his players are under pressure to live up to the Steelers' rich history – with the franchise having won six Super Bowls in the past.

The coach said: "History is the ultimate motivator for us. The standard was set here long before myself and these young men (arrived) and it's our job to adhere to it. And we take a great deal of pride in that and in entertaining our fans, obviously."

Tomlin also embraces being the NFL's most experienced coach.

He quipped: "I love being the old guy. I enjoy it from that perspective. It's been cool to watch coaches come through the ranks and distinguish themselves and get opportunities.

"I'm just appreciative of watching guys work and earn their opportunities and then seeing what they do with them.

"When you're young, you're so concerned with meeting the demands of the job. Don't get me wrong, I certainly still am, but I'm just experienced enough to step outside myself every now and then and appreciate some of the things and notice some of the things that don't directly relate to me."