Steelers pick Tomlin as head coach

Sunday, January 21, 2007

By Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers have informed Mike Tomlin, the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, that he will be their next head coach. The team plans a news conference to announce his hiring.

The sides were negotiating a contract tonight for four years and an option year.

The Steelers made their decision today between Russ Grimm, their assistant head coach and offensive line coach, and Tomlin. They informed Grimm today that they had chosen Tomlin.

Tomlin, 34, will be the fourth consecutive coach hired by the Steelers who was an assistant in his 30s with another team before arriving in Pittsburgh. Bill Austin was 37 when he was chosen in 1966, Chuck Noll was 37 in 1969 and Bill Cowher was 34 when he was hired in 1992.


More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette