Wednesday, December 27, 2006
By Ed Bouchette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bill Cowher's status as the Steelers' coach might be determined as soon as next week.
Taking a different stance than he did the previous week, Cowher said yesterday that "it won't go long" before he reveals his plans.
"That's for next week," Cowher said yesterday when he was asked if he will return for a 16th season as the Steelers' coach. "We'll talk about that next week."
Cowher has one season left on his contract, but has said he has a decision to make about his future after the season. Talks to extend his contract broke off in August, and Cowher's wife and youngest daughter, a sophomore in high school, moved to a new home they bought last year in Raleigh, N.C.
"I'm not sure what the time frame is," Cowher said of his impending announcement. "But I think the most important thing is to focus on this game."
If Cowher steps down, he could not coach elsewhere in 2007 unless the Steelers granted permission, which is unlikely. He would be free to coach elsewhere in 2008.
His statement yesterday could mean he already has decided what he plans to do and wants to wait until after the season ends Sunday in Cincinnati to reveal his decision. Last week, he said he wanted to take his time before deciding his future.
"There's been no decision made," he said then. "It will be something I will need to get away from and give some serious thought to and I will do that -- at the right time. Now is not the right time."
On Dec. 13, he told reporters in a conference call in Charlotte, N.C., that "I'll sit back and put a lot of thought into it and make a decision accordingly."
The Steelers, though, would prefer Cowher decide quickly so they also can make plans. If he wanted to remain their coach, they would like to sign him to a contract extension. If he is stepping down, they want to search immediately for his successor.
Their next coach could be on their staff. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who also is assistant head coach, are considered the leading candidates.
But the Steelers also may want to interview coaches who are not on the staff, such as Kirk Ferentz, the University of Iowa coach and Upper St. Clair native. Another possibility is Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. The Steelers interviewed 12 or 13 coaches before they hired Cowher in 1992 to replace Chuck Noll when he retired three days after the 1992 season.
There is urgency because any or all of those candidates -- and possibly others -- could be candidates for other openings in the NFL. It does not look as if there will be as many head coaches fired in the league as there were in recent years, but Arizona and Atlanta appear headed for coaching changes and at least Whisenhunt would be a strong candidate for either. There also could be changes in Miami and with the New York Giants.
The Steelers' assistants add to their attractiveness as candidates because their season will end Sunday and they can be interviewed and hired immediately by another team. Coaches of teams in the playoffs can be interviewed once, but cannot be hired until their season ends.
Whisenhunt turned down an opportunity to coach the Oakland Raiders last season and Grimm has been a candidate for jobs the past few years.
If Cowher leaves, the faster the Steelers pick their next coach and the more time he will have to choose the more attractive assistant coaches to join him before they sign on elsewhere. It is assumed that much of the Steelers' staff would remain here if either Whisenhunt or Grimm is chosen, but there would be some turnover.
When asked if he felt his team needed better players for next season, Cowher said he was not yet ready to talk about next year.
(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. )
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