Cowher expected to leave Steelers.

Killswitch · 01-04-2007, 03:31 PM

Cowher expected to leave Steelers after 15 seasons

Operating on a timeline established during a Tuesday morning meeting with Steelers ownership, Bill Cowher will return to Pittsburgh next Monday to reveal plans for his NFL future.

The consensus among high-ranking team officials, and sources around the NFL, is that Cowher will retire as coach of the Steelers after 15 seasons. In fact, it will be stunning if Cowher returns to the team to fulfill the final year of his current contract.

The reason? Ostensibly to spend more time with his family.

There has been rampant speculation since last May, when it was revealed that Cowher and his wife had purchased a home in Raleigh, N.C., that 2006 would be his last season with the team. That speculation was fueled when contract discussions between the Steelers and Cowher's representative failed to produce an extension to his deal.

He has been purposely cryptic about his plans but, in a late-season conference call with Carolina-area media, Cowher acknowledged he would resolve his status for the future shortly after the season ended.

Cowher huddled early Tuesday morning with owner Dan Rooney and team president Art Rooney II before driving to Raleigh to join his wife and the couple's youngest daughter, who lived there all season. During the Tuesday meeting, Steelers ownership did not attempt to press Cowher for a more expeditious decision on his future, and agreed that he should take some time to deliberate.

Within the Steelers' inner circle, it has been widely accepted that a decision would come early next week -- and that Cowher would likely walk away from the NFL for at least a year. One organizational source said that he felt Cowher "had one foot out the door" as early as last spring. Cowher has conceded that, after the team's Super Bowl XL victory 11 months ago, he considered retirement.

Once his existing contract with the Steelers expires following the 2007 season, he would be free to seek employment elsewhere. If Cowher exits the game now, many believe he will explore jobs in broadcasting for the 2007 season.

Typical of Pittsburgh management, the Steelers will allow the situation to play out and will then react. Even though the Steelers slumped to 8-8 in 2006, the roster remains a talented one and the club is capable of a quick rebound.

That, plus the stability and support of ownership makes a Pittsburgh vacancy -- if there is one -- the plum job of all the current openings. Steelers management is confident, should Cowher leave, that it will find a suitable successor.

In-house candidates almost certainly would include assistant head coach Russ Grimm and offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, both of whom are candidates for other current openings around the league as well. The Steelers also would interview several outside candidates.

In his 15 seasons, Cowher has compiled a 161-99-1 record, including playoff games. Under his stewardship, the Steelers have won eight division titles, earned 10 playoff berths, advanced to the conference championship game six times, appeared in two Super Bowl games and won one.

Source: ESPN.com

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Cowher expected to leave Steelers.

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