Steelers offensive coordinator could replace Cowher

	Steelers assistant Ken Whisenhunt is a strong candidate to replace Bill Cowher. He's also in the running for the Cardinals, Falcons and Dolphins jobs. Michael Fabus/WireImage

Ken Whisenhunt, who is scheduled to interview for the vacant Cardinals head coaching job in Arizona Friday and has already spoken with the Atlanta Falcons about their opening, has emerged as the favorite to succeed Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh, a source familiar with the Steelers' search said Friday.

Whisenhunt, Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator, is currently viewed as a stronger candidate than Steelers assistant head coach/offensive line Russ Grimm, who is also expected to interview for the job. Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who is a strong candidate for the Cardinals and Falcons jobs and is  expected to talk to the Miami Dolphins about their vacancy, is also on the Steelers' list of desired interviewees, as is Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin.

One potential snag in the Steelers' plans is the possibility that Whisenhunt, a native of Atlanta who played tight end for the Falcons from 1985-88, could be offered a more lucrative contract by Atlanta owner Arthur Blank than the Rooneys are willing to pay a coach in Pittsburgh. Cowher, who resigned on Friday, was making $4 million a year -- about half of what the league's highest-paid coach, Seattle's Mike Holmgren, receives annually. Rivera and Whisenhunt are considered Atlanta's leading candidates, according to sources familiar with the Falcons' search.

Another possibility is that the Steelers could go after Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, a Pittsburgh native with previous NFL coaching experience (he was on Bill Belichick's staff with the Cleveland Browns in the early '90s). Ferentz has rebuffed NFL overtures in the past but could be tempted by the chance to return to his hometown, where he attended Upper St. Clair High in the early '70s.

In addition to Rivera and Whisenhunt, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow is a leading candidate for the Cardinals job. Chow, who is scheduled to meet with Cardinals officials on Monday, coached Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart at USC. Adrian Wilson, the Cardinals' Pro Bowl safety, played at North Carolina State when Chow was an assistant there and, like Leinart, is lobbying hard on Chow's behalf.

The Cardinals have also interviewed Texans assistant head coach/offense (and former Packers head coach) Mike Sherman and are scheduled to talk to Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron and Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach/quarterbacks Jim Caldwell over the weekend.

On Friday night, as he prepared to dine with Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill and his son, team president Michael, at a Phoenix-area steakhouse, Whisenhunt said in a telephone interview that he was intrigued by what he had heard during visits to Atlanta and Arizona. "Everything has been very positive so far," said Whisenhunt, who will meet with Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga on Saturday and is scheduled to have a formal interview with the Rooneys in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. "The process has been fun, and I'm excited about the possibilities."