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Mora To Replace Holmgren In '09

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The Associated Press

Published: February 7, 2008

Updated: 02/06/2008 11:44 pm

KIRKLAND, Wash. - Jim Mora will succeed Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, beginning with the 2009 season.

After serving as the assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for one more season, the 46-year-old Mora will begin a new, four-year contract as the head coach.

Seahawks president Tim Ruskell and chief executive officer Tod Leiweke both emphasized during a news conference Wednesday the move gives the team stability and unity.

"What Holmgren's done here, by announcing his retirement a year ahead of time, has afforded this organization to make a smooth transition, to be seamless, to be nonchaotic," Ruskell said. "Which is kind of rare in the sports world - certainly in the NFL."

Holmgren pushed for the announcement now, so players who are poised to enter free agency next month can judge Seattle while knowing who its coach will be beyond next season.

"This makes a lot of sense for the organization," Holmgren said in a team statement. "Jim is a talented coach who already had a measure of success in this league and has all the tools here needed to succeed."

Both Holmgren and Mora chose not to attend the news conference because Ruskell said they didn't want to "make a big splash."

"I am extremely excited about the future, but completely focused on the opportunity we have in front of us this season," Mora said in the statement.

BILLS: Ralph Wilson is convinced Toronto is ready to support an NFL franchise. The Bills owner wouldn't say whether that team might one day be his.

Wilson steered clear from discussing whether the Bills would ever relocate north of the border. "Don't worry right now," was the best answer he could provide.

JAGUARS: Gregg Williams was named the team's defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Williams spent the past four seasons as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator in Washington, and was passed over for the head coaching job.

LEGAL: Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon has pleaded innocent to drunken driving in Kirkland, Wash. His next hearing is March 31.

PATRIOTS: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is willing to pursue any believable information in the Spygate case. He simply doesn't know if any exists.

Goodell said the league has been in touch with representatives of former Patriots assistant coach Matt Walsh, now a golf pro in Maui, Hawaii. Walsh did video work for the Patriots when they won their first Super Bowl after the 2001 season, and was not interviewed as part of the NFL's investigation into New England illegally taping opposing coaches in the last two years.

RAIDERS: Hall of Famer James Lofton officially joined the coaching staff, taking over as the receivers coach.

REDSKINS: Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo interviewed most of Wednesday with Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

TELEVISION: "Inside the NFL" is ending its 31-year run on HBO. Wednesday's season finale was the studio show's last on the network.

OBIT: Ex-Oilers linebacker John Grimsley, 45, was found fatally shot in his suburban Houston home Wednesday, the apparent victim of a gun cleaning accident, an official said.

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