Holmgren leaves Seattle on own terms
Friday, January 2, 2009 8:29 AM PST
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Maybe Mike Holmgren’s biggest accomplishment through 17 years, 12 postseasons, three Super Bowls and more wins than any other active coach: He’s leaving on his terms.
With huge smiles, a waiting family and a new Harley, to boot.
‘‘It’s allowed me to have closure,’’ a composed, jovial Holmgren said Tuesday in his final public goodbye after 10 years as the coach of the Seattle Seahawks, a day after meeting with successor Jim Mora. ‘‘For me, it’s been good. It’s been healthy.’’
The 60-year-old Holmgren is taking a sabbatical from football in 2009. He’ll spend another week cleaning up tasks in Seattle, then go with wife Kathy to their home in Phoenix to ride the motorcycle he already had — plus the red, $40,000 model his players gave him as a surprise gift at practice last week.
Knowing speculation will continue about his availability for NFL coaching jobs, he reiterated he will take the time off he has promised his wife of 38 years.
He wants to see how he feels about doing nothing for the first time since he was ‘‘a no-direction type of guy’’ just out of college at Southern California, working on a ship off Hawaii in 1970.
‘‘Please believe me on this: I’m going into a big adventure here,’’ Holmgren said. ‘‘I’ve been doing something for 40 years. I’m going to be doing something else — or not doing anything. I’ve got to find out how this is going to work.
‘‘I’m looking forward to this time. I need this time.’’
The feel-good exit was far from a retirement.
Holmgren reiterated he’d like a second chance at being a general manager. He envies good friend Bill Parcells, whom he trails by nine victories for ninth on the league’s list, for the executive position Parcells has running the Miami Dolphins.
‘‘Once you had the taste of the fine wine, it’s hard to get the ones you screw off the cap,’’ Holmgren said, chuckling.
Holmgren arrived a decade ago from Green Bay to be the coach and general manager and pull the Seahawks out of chronic mediocrity. He mostly succeeded, but not as a GM. Seattle relieved him of that role after the 2002 season.
