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Going halfsies Holmgren gives up GM title, remains head coachPosted: Tuesday December 31, 2002 6:39 PMUpdated: Tuesday December 31, 2002 11:15 PM
KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) -- Mike Holmgren stepped down as general manager of the Seattle Seahawks but will remain the coach, a move he hopes will help the team win a Super Bowl someday. "We wanted to free up Mike to do more coaching," Seahawks president Bob Whitsitt said Tuesday. "I just think there's so much to do; there's only so many hours in a day." Holmgren insisted on being the Seahawks' general manager when he left the Green Bay Packers four years ago. However, he said he was giving up this job willingly. "I think the biggest title you can have is Super Bowl champion," said Holmgren, who won the NFL title at Green Bay. "It wasn't a particularly difficult thing for me. My No. 1 goal is winning." The Seahawks, 7-9, missed the playoffs but finished the season with three consecutive victories, including a 31-28 overtime win over San Diego on Sunday. Whitsitt said he didn't have a candidate to succeed Holmgren as general manager. However, there has been speculation that he's interested in hiring Randy Mueller, former GM of the New Orleans Saints. Mueller spent last season out of football after being fired by the Saints. He was the Seahawks' general manager from 1995-99. In other changes, the Seahawks fired the following: defensive coordinator Steve Sidwell, line coach Larry Brooks, linebackers coach Johnny Holland, secondary coach Ken Flajole and offensive assistant and quality control coach Jerry Colquitt. "They were friends," Holmgren said. "We've been together a long time. It was not a very fun thing to do." Players generally supported Holmgren as a coach. "He's the finest head coach I've ever played for and I admire him greatly," said quarterback Trent Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl while playing for Brian Billick in Baltimore. "I really hope for the opportunity to play for him again." Holmgren is 31-33 since taking over as coach and general manager in 1999. The Seahawks went 9-7, 6-10 and 9-7 in Holmgren's first three seasons, with one playoff appearance: a 20-17 loss to Miami in a 1999 wild-card game. He signed a $32 million, eight-year contract to handle both jobs in Seattle after coaching the Packers to a 75-37 record and two Super Bowl appearances in seven seasons. Holmgren is credited with identifying and acquiring promising young players such as receivers Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson but was criticized for the holdout and eventual departure of receiver Joey Galloway in 1999. After last season, Holmgren cited concerns about Levon Kirkland's weight when he released the former All-Pro linebacker. Kirkland signed with Philadelphia and became a leader for the NFL's fourth-ranked defense. The Seahawks opened the 2002 season with playoff aspirations, but started 0-3 for the first time in Holmgren's 11 NFL seasons. They were beset by injuries to several key starters before their late-season improvement.
"We expected to be a lot better this season," linebacker
Isaiah Kacyvenski said. "It was tough, but it's also a big plus.
We have something to look forward to. It's got to carry over at
some point."
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Mike Holmgren hopes concentrating more on his coaching duties will improve the Seahawks' chances at winning the Super Bowl. 
