KIRKLAND — During a coaching career that has spanned 37 years, including 16 as an NFL head coach, Mike Holmgren has had to convince plenty of free agents to sign, players to play and officials to reconsider.
And when it came time for Holmgren to decide whether to return for one final season with the Seattle Seahawks, he had to convince the most important person of all.
The 59-year-old head coach said Tuesday that he will return for a 10th and final season as Seattle’s head coach, but only after getting the blessing of his longtime wife, Kathy.
“She’s making me fill out this little contract,” Holmgren joked during a Tuesday press conference to announce his future intentions. “‘Upon completion of your last game: the laundry, the garbage, the whole deal.’ I’ve made some promises.”
Mike and Kathy Holmgren spent the weekend in Arizona discussing the coach’s future. With one year left on his contract, he went into the weekend hoping to finish what he started. His wife, Holmgren admitted Tuesday, was hoping to spend more time with her husband in the fall and winter.
In the end, he convinced her that he needed one more shot to go out in style.
“There were too many good things that took place (in recent seasons), not the least of which is that we have a good football team,” Holmgren said during his Tuesday afternoon press conference. “I just wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye.”
And so Holmgren will coach one final season in Seattle, then hand the reins over to someone else. All indications are that assistant head coach Jim Mora is next in line for the job, but the team was not making any official announcement as of Tuesday.
Holmgren said that an announcement about a new coach is “for another time and another place, and I won’t be there.” He added that his only focus is on going out on top.
“This will be my last year, and we’re going to make it the best year ever,” he said. “We’re going to work very, very hard to finish the job that I hoped to do when I first came (to Seattle in 1999), and that’s get to the Super Bowl and win one.”
Holmgren was in good spirits during the 25-minute press conference. Dressed in a brown sweater and slacks, he didn’t bristle when a reporter called him a “lame duck” and joked about ditching his conservative nature.
“For the first time in my career, you’re going to see fake punts, double-reverse passes, onside kicks,” he said. “Don’t be surprised by anything. This is my last go at it; I’m (not holding back).”
He added that comments he made last week about the possibility of extending his contract were misconstrued. Holmgren said Tuesday that his only decision was whether to come back for one more season or not at all.
In nine seasons with the team, Holmgren has an 86-68 record. During the 2007 season, he broke Chuck Knox’s franchise record of 83 victories. He also holds club records for most playoff wins (four), division titles (five) and most regular seasons with 10 or more wins (three).
Holmgren ranks 11th in NFL history with 170 wins, the most of any active coach. The only legendary coach he could catch during the 2008 season is Bill Parcells, who has 13 more victories than Holmgren for 10th all time.
In recent years, Holmgren has talked openly about the emotional toll the game has taken on him. He has said the losses, in particular, are harder to take than they were in his younger years.
On several occasions over the past five years, Holmgren has taken time off after the season to discuss his future with Kathy. Once again this year, they decided that he would return.
Only this time, there is a tangible end in sight.
“This came down to a very personal decision,” he said, “because I like this job, and I like this place. As long as Kathy was OK with it, I was going to give it another go.”
And so Holmgren will. For one more year.
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