SI.com: Steelers choose Vikes' Tomlin to succeed Cowher

[theogt]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/01/20/steelers.coach/index.html

Mike Tomlin, defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, has been chosen as the Pittsburgh Steelers' new head coach, SI.com has learned.

The official announcement will come either later Saturday or on Sunday.

Tomlin, 34, impressed the Steelers during the interview process with his organization skills, intelligence and grasp of the game, according to a source familiar with the coaching search.

He succeeds Bill Cowher, who resigned Jan. 5 after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach.

Tomlin beat out Russ Grimm, 47, a Steelers assistant for six seasons and their assistant head coach for three, who had been considered the front-runner. The other finalist for the job was Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

Before joining the Vikings a year ago, Tomlin had spent five years as a defensive coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before that, he was a college assistant at Cincinnati, Arkansas State, Memphis and Virginia Military Institute.

Tomlin will become only the third Steelers head coach in 38 years and the NFL's sixth African-American head coach.

 

[SDogo]

wow, that was out of left field.

 

[theogt]

I guess this means that they're most likely switching to 4-3 and Lebeau is gone.

 

[theogt]

wow, that was out of left field.

He's been the rumored front-runner for several days now.

 

[theebs]

I have to say I am completely shocked.

This guy is way down the ladder on the tampa 2 coaching scheme and he is getting a premier head coaching job...

Wow.

Good luck to him. I Know he said he will keep the defense, but will he keep lebeau? Who will he hire as assitants and where does russ grimm go now?

 

[SDogo]

He's been the rumored front-runner for several days now.

I only say that because the local media in Pittsburgh was playing it off. They really did not believe it was possible.

 

[JBS]

I guess this means that they're most likely switching to 4-3 and Lebeau is gone.

Very good point Theo. As many of us know Tomlin likes to run the cover 2 and that pretty much means Lebeau is up for grabs.

 

[WoodysGirl]

wow, that was out of left field.

Not really. I think PFT was talking him up for awhile. The issue with him was that he was so young, so was considered he wasn't ready.

Now from what I've been reading, Steelers may go 4-3 due to Tomlin being a 4-3 guy.

How interesting that neither of the supposed top 2 steeler guys were chosen to succeed Cowher.

 

[VA Cowboy]

Good luck to him. I Know he said he will keep the defense, but will he keep lebeau? Who will he hire as assitants and where does russ grimm go now?

Nothing against Tomlin, but I don't want to wish the Steelers luck. I hope they totally fall off the face of the football world.

 

[SDogo]

Not really. I think PFT was talking him up for awhile. The issue with him was that he was so young, so was considered he wasn't ready.

Now from what I've been reading, Steelers may go 4-3 due to Tomlin being a 4-3 guy.

How interesting that neither of the supposed top 2 steeler guys were chosen to succeed Cowher.

I know, Like I said the Pittsburgh media was either so against it or thought it was such a cover that they had me convinced there was no way it was going to happen.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Obviously, the Rooneys were looking for someone young so the new coach could hopefully have a long career there... I applaud their thinking.

 

[Alexander]

Nothing against Tomlin, but I don't want to wish the Steelers luck. I hope they totally fall off the face of the football world.

I'll second that and applaud this hire.

This one will blow up in their faces in very short time.

 

[Alexander]

Obviously, the Rooneys were looking for someone young so the new coach could hopefully have a long career there... I applaud their thinking.

They could also have been looking for a cheap hire.

 

[stealth]

you know what sucks that guy is barely older than me and he is an NFL coach. I gotta get on the ball man.

 

[SDogo]

They could also have been looking for a cheap hire.

Which is more likely and half the reason Cowher wanted out. They are cheap.

 

[stealth]

Which is more likely and half the reason Cowher wanted out. They are cheap.

I would rather loyal and cheap. Give me a boss that will let me stick around for 15 years still pay me very well and I will take it before the big paycheck for 3 years.

 

[Gaede]

Obviously, the Rooneys were looking for someone young so the new coach could hopefully have a long career there... I applaud their thinking.

yeah, I agree...it's a huge risk and I admire that

 

[big dog cowboy]

They could also have been looking for a cheap hire.

Standard operating procedure at it's best at work once again.

 

[5Stars]

I would rather loyal and cheap. Give me a boss that will let me stick around for 15 years still pay me very well and I will take it before the big paycheck for 3 years.

Not me...! I'm basically lazy, so, give me 10 mil for three years and I'm good to go...

 

[WoodysGirl]

POSTED 2:24 p.m. EST; UPDATED 2:37 p.m. EST, January 20, 2007

STEELERS PICK TOMLIN

Michael Silver of Sports Illustrated reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers have chosen Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin to be the team's next head coach.

We've been banging the gong for Tomlin throughout the process, and we're glad to see that the Steelers picked him despite the fact that we endorsed him so strongly.

Tomlin beat out Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm and Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera.

It's the third straight time that the Steelers have hired a head coach under the age of 40. And it's the first time in team history that the Steelers have hired an African-American head coach.

The move is significant, since it shows that the guy after whom the "Rooney Rule" was named is truly color blind when the time comes to picking the best person to lead his team.

Our concern, frankly, is whether the rank-and-file Steelers fans will be as charitable. We've spent enough time in Pittsburgh to know that, for a northern city, there's a strong undercurrent of racism there. Hopefully, all of the fans will follow the example that the Rooneys have set by making the best decision possible for the future of the franchise, regardless of race.

The hire surely will bring about significant change, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The 3-4 will be out the door, replaced by Tomlin's signature Cover 2. Assistant coaches like defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will become irrelevant, and popular players like Troy Polamalu might not have the skills to make the shift to the new system.

We really think it's the best move over the long haul. This franchise was still hungover from the completion of a 14-year quest last February in Detroit. A new direction was needed; Tomlin will bring it.

And we've got a strong feeling that, under Tomlin, it won't be another 14 years before the Steelers are hoisting their sixth Lombardi.