Tomlin to coach Steelers

[TSIAS]

Any Steelers or Vikings fans have thoughts on this? I thought for sure that Pittsburgh would stay in-house and go with assistant Russ Grimm.

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.

[Bill McBlueState]

1. but Tomlin denies it...

See here: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2732197

Tomlin: Report tapping him as Steelers coach 'untrue'
ESPN.com news services

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers have narrowed their wish list of candidates
to replace Bill Cowher to three names -- Russ Grimm, Ron Rivera and
Mike Tomlin -- but have not yet made a decision on their next head
coach.

The Steelers declined Saturday to confirm they have chosen a coach to
replace Cowher, who resigned less than a year after leading the team
to its first Super Bowl victory in 26 years.

A report on Sports Illustrated's Web site, SI.com, on Saturday
indicated that Tomlin had been chosen as the successor to Cowher, but
the Vikings' defensive coordinator told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that no
decision had been made.

"It is untrue," Tomlin said of the report. "I have no idea where it's
coming from."

...

[jcrew2001]

2. Rooney rule

The Rooney's should hire a Black Coach because they are the ones who established the rule about minority hiring, so they need to put their money where their mouths are.

If Tomlin is not hired, then it was just a PR stunt by the Rooney's to show they are not hypocrites (ha ha).

[Bill McBlueState]

3. that doesn't make any sense

The idea that valuing diversity should forever consign someone to hire coaches of a particular race doesn't make any sense.

And what does that have to do with my post, anyway?

[jcrew2001]

6. rule

The rooney rule is both good and bad. Some teams, like the lions, have preferred head coaches that the GM likes, but they run the dog and pony shows of the interviews, and then they get called out on it.

I think the Rooney rule is okay, but the Steelers only had 3 coaches, so I view that as arrogance to the other teams and telling them how to hire their coaches, when the Steelers were hiring Zero coaches during that time-span.

Now that the Steelers know how difficult it is finding a coach that is a good fit, there will be a spotlight on them for (1) go with the "insider, good ole-boy network candidates - which the Rooney rule was supposed to prevent, or (2) actually follow the Rooney rule and prove that minority candidates outside the good-ole-boy network can be hired and successful.

Tomlin may be a good coach, but it was also just as important to the PR that the Rooney's live up to the expectations that they placed on themselves when they created the Rooney rule - that black coaches can be successful in the nfl and for the Steelers.

If they had hired Grimm, the media would have been all over them for having a "Sham interviewing process and never giving consideration for minority candidates. After all, how many black coaches/coordinators are on the Steelers staff?

[Bill McBlueState]

4. Well, now I believe it

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette link

As a fan, I'm surprised they didn't go with the in-house choice. It looks like we could be in store for some significant changes in the defense.

But I do trust the Rooneys' decision-making abilities. Here's to another decade-spannning coaching tenure!

:toast:

[PRETZEL]

5. I would have preferred Russ

but if the Rooney's feel confident in Tomlin, then I'll live with it. I guess the Rooney's were in a difficult position here. Russ Grimm will be a terrific head coach in the NFL. He's very football smart and knows how to handle players. I thought that he'd be the pick since the day Cowher resigned. He had all the markings of being the next home town here as well as not having to have the entire coaching staff put into turmoil as virtually all the other coaches are under contract.

Apparently Tomlin interviewed extremely well and to impress the Rooney family that much has to say a tremendous amount for the character of Mike Tomlin.

I wish him the best of luck.

[Robeson]

7. Unfortunately, the Vikings just lost their best coach, and kept....

...a mediocrity as their head coach. Reminds me of when they kept Green, and let Dungy get away. Sad.