Post by pelicanguy on Jan 22, 2007 14:10:05 GMT -5
It's Official: Tomlin Is New Steelers Coach
* Steelers Schedule Press Conference For 3:30pm
(KDKA) PITTSBURGH - Though the Steelers declined to confirm reports over the weekend that Mike Tomlin would replace Bill Cowher as the team's new head coach, the team will make it official this afternoon.
The Steelers are scheduled to introduce Tomlin as the team's 16th head coach at a 3:30pm news conference.
Over the weekend, several news outlets started reporting that Tomlin, the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator, accepted the job as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach.
Last night, the Associated Press reported that Tomlin and the Steelers were trying to work out a four-year deal which they hoped would be completed today.
According to the AP, Tomlin is expected to make around $2.5 million per year, the going rate for first-time NFL coaching hires.
Reports that the team’s search for a head coach was coming to an end started to swirl on Saturday, when Sports Illustrated writer, Michael Silver, broke the news about Tomlin on the magazine's website.
Just about two hours after the SI.com report was published, ESPN reported Tomlin said it wasn't true.
Silver spoke to KDKA's John Steigerwald by telephone and defended his story.
“If Mike Tomlin says it's not true, what he means is, ‘I have not been offered the job,’ which is entirely possible," Silver said. "But my report, which I obviously stand by, is that the Steelers have made their decision, Tomlin's the guy, they want him."
Later, ESPN.com reported that sources confirmed to them that Minnesota's Tomlin had been chosen to fill the post.
Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney told the Post-Gazette there was nothing to the report.
However, a conflicting a report came from the Pittsburgh Tribune Review on Sunday morning when they said that Steelers Assistant Head Coach Russ Grimm was offered the position.
Later that morning, the Steelers released a statement on their website.
According to that statement from Steelers.com, team officials had not concluded a contract agreement and they did not expect to do so on Sunday.
The search for a new Steelers head coach has been on since Cowher’s resignation on January 5th.
Stay with KDKA and KDKA.com for the live press conference.
kdka.com/topstories/local_story_022075745.html