Seahawks say Holmgren won’t rejoin them
December 20, 2009
RENTON, Wash. (AP)—The Seattle Seahawks have said that Mike Holmgren will notrejoin the team.
The Seahawks talked with Holmgren over the weekend about a senior leadershipposition.
“After a series of respectful discussions, Mike has declined our offer torejoin the team given the structure we proposed,” Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke saidin a statement. “We hold Mike in high regard and wish the Holmgren family thevery best with their new horizons.”
The 61-year-old Holmgren won a Super Bowl with the Packers and led theSeahawks to their only Super Bowl appearance as a head coach.
“I sincerely thank Paul Allen and Tod for all their support over theyears,” Holmgren said in a statement. “I thank them for reaching out to me andwe conclude these discussions as friends.”
Holmgren has also been interested in joining the Cleveland Browns. He spenttwo days meeting with Browns owner Randy Lerner earlier this week.
Holmgren said on his radio show in Seattle on Friday that he planned to giveLerner an answer “sooner than later” but added there was no definitetimetable. It may have accelerated after he declined an offer to rejoin theSeahawks.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for anybody,” Holmgren said of his visit toCleveland. “It’s about as good a job situation as you could ask for in thisbusiness.”
AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.