Men of Steeltown
PITTSBURGH – The last three times the Pittsburgh Steelers chose a new head coach, they went outside the organization to hire an NFL assistant coach.
Bill Austin’s hiring in 1966 didn’t work out so well, producing only 11 wins in three seasons. Chuck Noll (1969, 209 wins) and Bill Cowher (1992, 161 wins) turned out a little better.
This time, for only their second head coach hiring since 1969, the Steelers may not have to look outside their own practice complex.
They already have two of the league’s most-sought candidates in offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm, who was given the title of assistant head coach several years ago after the Chicago Bears nearly hired him away.
Whisenhunt and Grimm will be interviewed, team president Art Rooney II said Friday. Rooney, team chairman Dan Rooney and director of football operations Kevin Colbert will be involved in the search.
Rooney did not identify any other candidates – he said the list is only being assembled now – and that the team would not reveal who it interviews unless that coach is agreeable. Rooney did not rule out a college coach, though the Steelers haven’t been interested in one since Penn State’s Joe Paterno was offered the job in the late 1960s.
“NFL experience with a coach has proven to be an advantage,” Art Rooney said.
Whisenhunt and Grimm have been key members of Cowher’s staff for years – the 44-year-old Whisenhunt for six years as the tight ends coach and, starting in 2004, the offensive coordinator.
Rooney did not deny it might be an advantage that both have strong working relationships with the Steelers’ players and know the organization.
“We’ll be aware of the team and our roster as we go into this,” Rooney said. “We’ve had an approach to the game of football that’s been consistent back to coach Noll.”
Rooney said there is no deadline to find a replacement – when Cowher replaced Noll in 1992, the search took nearly a month. It is not expected to last nearly that long this time.
“The only pressure I feel, we all feel, is to find the best coach for this organization at this point,” Rooney said. “You want a personality who, No. 1, is somebody who can deal with players, get the players’ attention – having a proven track record in that regard is an important personality trait.”
The 47-year-old Grimm is, like Cowher, a Pittsburgh-area native. Grimm played at Pitt before starring on the Washington Redskins’ renowned “Hogs” offensive line. He joined the Steelers’ staff seven years ago after eight years as a Redskins assistant.
Grimm also has one asset few candidates possess: four Super Bowl rings, three as a player and another as a coach. Last year, he was one of 10 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Whisenhunt and Grimm are being considered by some of the five NFL teams looking for coaches. Whisenhunt interviewed Thursday with the Atlanta Falcons and met Friday with the Arizona Cardinals. The Miami Dolphins also plan to talk with Whisenhunt, a former Georgia Tech and Falcons tight end.