Cowher focuses on family

DETROIT — During Tuesday's Super Bowl Media Day, Steelers coach Bill Cowher was asked what the best thing is about coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The thoughts of the native of Crafton, Pa., turned to family.

"My parents had the chance to watch [my] kids grow up," said Cowher, the Steelers' 14-year head coach.

Cowher and his wife, Kaye, have three daughters: Meagan, Lauren and Lindsay.

Then Cowher thought of another family — the Rooneys.

"It's a very stable organization — that's probably the best thing about it," said Cowher, the longest-tenured coach in the NFL.

Cowher, who played linebacker at North Carolina State University, was given his first coaching position by Niles native Bo Rein, then N.C. State's coach.

"It was just after the Eagles cut me in 1979 and I went back as a grad assistant and finished my degree," Cowher said.

Cowher played five years in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, then began his NFL coaching career with the Browns in 1985 (special teams).

After two seasons as secondary coach, Cowher left the Browns in 1989 when Marty Schottenheimer went to Kansas City and made Cowher the Chiefs' defensive coordinator.

Three seasons later, he became the NFL's then-youngest head coach, replacing Hall of Famer Chuck Noll.

Steelers' stability
impresses Holmgren

That stability isn't lost on Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who is finishing his seventh year in Seattle after twice leading the Green Bay Packers to the Super Bowl in the '90s.

"They have had two coaches in 40 years," said Holmgren of the Steelers. "In this day and age, you can't say that about anybody else. You just have to say that the marriage of Bill with that family and that organization is probably perfect."

Holmgren said the Steelers tradition and their continuity are enviable.

"I think we're still developing that," he said. "I do think we have a style of play that we've tried to be consistent with and to keep the coaches together helps because you keep the same system.

"Certainly the patience and trust my owner [Paul Allen] has given me has helped us to develop how we play in Seattle," Holmgren said.

About Rein who died in a plane crash when he was LSU's coach, Cowher said, "It was a very sad day."

Cowher said he also played with Rein's brother, Curtis, at N.C. State.

Cowher reflected on how Rein and his first agent, Robert Fraley, both died in similar fashion. Fraley died in the 1999 plane crash that killed golfer Payne Stewart.

Cowher said he was introduced to Fraley by Dan Reeves, the former Broncos and Falcons coach.

It was on a Monday afternoon. The ironic part, Cowher said, is that Reeves' Falcons were playing in Pittsburgh for a Monday Night Game.

"I think about how those two guys died in small planes, two really great individuals," Cowher said.

Different coaches
with same goal

Sunday will be a very happy day for Cowher or Holmgren. Despite 10 playoff appearances in 14 seasons, Cowher has developed a reputation for not winning the big game. His Steelers are 2-4 in AFC Championship games and 0-1 in the Super Bowl.

Holmgren is trying to become the first NFL coach to win a Super Bowl with different teams.

"Nobody has ever done it so that in itself tells you how hard it is," Seahawks wide receiver Bobby Engram said. "I think it would be a tremendous accomplishment and extremely impressive. If anyone can do it, Coach Holmgren is the man."

Cowher says, "It would be very gratifying to hand Mr. [Dan] Rooney that fifth trophy. There is a lot of tradition with Pittsburgh and to be part of that would be really special.

"We have the four trophies in out building and I pass them every day," Cowher said. "And to bring another one there would be very gratifying and very special for the whole team."

Roles reversed
for both coaches

Holmgren said their roles are reversed. Ten years ago, the Steelers were heavy underdogs against the Cowboys, who were playing for their third championship in four seasons.

Eight years ago, Holmgren's Packers were going for their second straight win when quarterback John Elway led the Broncos to a 31-24 upset.

"Pittsburgh is a fine football team and already has accomplished quite a bit by winning on the road to get to the Super Bowl," Holmgren said. "The feeling I get is we are very much the underdog in this game. We were very much the favorite against Denver."

Cowher admitted that in some analysts' eyes, winning the Super Bowl defines a coach's career.

"But I don't think so in my eyes," he said. "To me it's a lot more about the journey than the final destination.

"It's what you have been able to do along the way, the people you are able to touch and what you are able to achieve.

"But in a lot of people's eyes, it's the defining part of a career," Cowher said. "Those things are for other people to judge.

"In 14 years, I've got a lot of great memories and relationships that I will cherish for a lifetime. And for me that is more important than any games."

Tom Williams covers the Steelers for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.