Steelers might reveal Cowher's future Jan. 5
NFL.com wire reports
PITTSBURGH (Jan. 4, 2007) -- With Bill Cowher showing no signs of returning next season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will hold an afternoon news conference Jan. 5 and likely will begin searching for a new coach immediately afterward.
Cowher, the Steelers' coach for 15 seasons and one of the NFL's best-known figures, met with team owner Dan Rooney and president Art Rooney II on Jan. 2 and asked for a few days to weigh his future plans. However, they had an understanding there would be a decision by Jan. 8 because the Steelers have to move on if Cowher isn't coming back.
Cowher called Dan Rooney from his new home in Raleigh, N.C., to say he had made up his mind. The two sides did not discuss any contract terms, a sign Cowher will resign with one season left on his contract.
Cowher has talked of wanting to spend more time with his family, especially now that they are living out of state. Cowher's two oldest daughters are at Princeton and the youngest has only 2½ years of high school remaining, time Cowher doesn't want to spend away from her.
Two strong candidates to replace him -- offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm -- already are in place and are interviewing with other teams. The team would interview at least one minority candidate, possibly more, and talk with several candidates outside the organization.
Cowher is in Raleigh, N.C., where his family moved last summer. There was no indication from the team that Cowher would attend the news conference.
The Steelers wanted to give him time following a disappointing 8-8 season to get away from the team. But they also don't want to wait much longer to begin looking for a new coach, since the Falcons, Cardinals and Dolphins already are seeking coaches.
The Falcons interviewed Whisenhunt, and the Cardinals plan to interview both Whisenhunt and Grimm.
All signs point to Cowher leaving.
He has never gone into a season without at least two seasons remaining on his contract. There also has been no indication from Cowher he wants to negotiate a new deal, and contract extension talks last summer did not progress past the preliminary stage.
Also, his season-ending meetings Jan. 1 with his players, which often last hours and hours, were much shorter than usual. No players were seen in the Steelers' complex past mid-afternoon and Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca said it was obvious Cowher looked ready to leave.
Cowher is the NFL's longest-tenured coach with his current team; Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, with 13 seasons, is second. Cowher is third among active coaches in regular-season victories with a 149-90-1 record and fourth overall with a 161-99-1 record counting postseason games.
Cowher initially told the Steelers last spring, after finally winning the Super Bowl for the first time following six trips to the AFC title game, that he was undecided about his future past this season.
The Steelers gave Cowher the option of returning next season and completing his current contract, but that arrangement would probably not satisfy either side. Cowher, if he coaches again, has signaled he wants to be one of the league's highest-paid coaches.
The Steelers wouldn't welcome a lame-duck coaching situation because it would create a season-long distraction, and ongoing speculation about who Cowher's successor would be.
If he wants to return to a sideline immediately, with another team and at a much higher salary, that team would have to work out compensation with the Steelers since Cowher is under contract for 2007.
The Steelers have not formally commented on Cowher's status since the season ended.
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/PIT/9908320
after my "Brett Favre To Retire" thread fiasco in the preseason, i should have learned to add question marks to topics like this. but it seems all but a foregone conclusion that he won't be returning. anyone have any ideas as to who should replace him?
NFL.com wire reports
PITTSBURGH (Jan. 4, 2007) -- With Bill Cowher showing no signs of returning next season, the Pittsburgh Steelers will hold an afternoon news conference Jan. 5 and likely will begin searching for a new coach immediately afterward.
Cowher, the Steelers' coach for 15 seasons and one of the NFL's best-known figures, met with team owner Dan Rooney and president Art Rooney II on Jan. 2 and asked for a few days to weigh his future plans. However, they had an understanding there would be a decision by Jan. 8 because the Steelers have to move on if Cowher isn't coming back.
Cowher called Dan Rooney from his new home in Raleigh, N.C., to say he had made up his mind. The two sides did not discuss any contract terms, a sign Cowher will resign with one season left on his contract.
Cowher has talked of wanting to spend more time with his family, especially now that they are living out of state. Cowher's two oldest daughters are at Princeton and the youngest has only 2½ years of high school remaining, time Cowher doesn't want to spend away from her.
Two strong candidates to replace him -- offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm -- already are in place and are interviewing with other teams. The team would interview at least one minority candidate, possibly more, and talk with several candidates outside the organization.
Cowher is in Raleigh, N.C., where his family moved last summer. There was no indication from the team that Cowher would attend the news conference.
The Steelers wanted to give him time following a disappointing 8-8 season to get away from the team. But they also don't want to wait much longer to begin looking for a new coach, since the Falcons, Cardinals and Dolphins already are seeking coaches.
The Falcons interviewed Whisenhunt, and the Cardinals plan to interview both Whisenhunt and Grimm.
All signs point to Cowher leaving.
He has never gone into a season without at least two seasons remaining on his contract. There also has been no indication from Cowher he wants to negotiate a new deal, and contract extension talks last summer did not progress past the preliminary stage.
Also, his season-ending meetings Jan. 1 with his players, which often last hours and hours, were much shorter than usual. No players were seen in the Steelers' complex past mid-afternoon and Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca said it was obvious Cowher looked ready to leave.
Cowher is the NFL's longest-tenured coach with his current team; Tennessee's Jeff Fisher, with 13 seasons, is second. Cowher is third among active coaches in regular-season victories with a 149-90-1 record and fourth overall with a 161-99-1 record counting postseason games.
Cowher initially told the Steelers last spring, after finally winning the Super Bowl for the first time following six trips to the AFC title game, that he was undecided about his future past this season.
The Steelers gave Cowher the option of returning next season and completing his current contract, but that arrangement would probably not satisfy either side. Cowher, if he coaches again, has signaled he wants to be one of the league's highest-paid coaches.
The Steelers wouldn't welcome a lame-duck coaching situation because it would create a season-long distraction, and ongoing speculation about who Cowher's successor would be.
If he wants to return to a sideline immediately, with another team and at a much higher salary, that team would have to work out compensation with the Steelers since Cowher is under contract for 2007.
The Steelers have not formally commented on Cowher's status since the season ended.
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/PIT/9908320
after my "Brett Favre To Retire" thread fiasco in the preseason, i should have learned to add question marks to topics like this. but it seems all but a foregone conclusion that he won't be returning. anyone have any ideas as to who should replace him?
