Is This Bill Cowher's Final Steel Curtain?

As ridiculous as it seems, maybe it is time for Cowher to move on. It would be beyond strange to envision anyone else on the Steelers' sideline, but it's inevitable. If he does "retire," I expect he'll take a year off, do some TV work here and there, then take his choice of practically any job, pro or college, he desires. That being said, I expect the Steelers to make a respectable push to resign him during the offseason. They owe him that much.

Posted by dyams at 2006-12-29 08:31 AM | Reply | Flag:

Crazy scenario: He takes a year or two off, then becomes the next head coach at Penn State. I seriously doubt that would ever happen, but an interesting "what if".

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-29 08:34 AM | Reply | Flag:

If anyone has earned the right to got out on his own terms, it is certainly Cowher. I can't imagine anyone else pacing the sidelines of Heinz Field though.

Posted by trox at 2006-12-29 08:50 AM | Reply | Flag:

No offense intended, rcade, but I really dislike these speculative posts. Nothing has happened, and no one knows what will happen. When something happens, then it will show up on SportsFilter. In the meantime, Cowher says it all: "Thats for next week. Well talk about that next week." This week the Steelers hopefully will focus on beating their rivals the Bengals and hopefully get to 8-8. IF Cowher retires I will miss him ont he sidelines, and I hope that Russ Grimm gets his shot. Personally I think he would be a good match.

Posted by terrapin at 2006-12-29 09:10 AM | Reply | Flag:

You're closer to the situation than most, terrapin. I don't think most NFL fans outside Pittsburgh recognize how strong the rumors have been of an impending Cowher retirement, and this could be our last chance to see the NFL's longest-tenured coach on the Steeler sidelines.

Posted by rcade at 2006-12-29 09:29 AM | Reply | Flag:

Well, the game isn't going to be nationally televised, so I am not sure that alerting users here will necessarily translate to people getting to see coach Cowher for the last time. And this still isn't news, it is still rumor. I hear that Bill Parcells may be fired after this season. Should I find a link to a Washington Post articlethe Cowboys' biggest rivals being the NFL team from Washington, afterall, and therefore an excellent source for material on the Cowboysand a fan board that only speculates about the posibility and post it to the front page of SportsFilter? Personally, I don't think so. I am (obviously) a Steelers fan, but I am not questioning the validity of this post based on my closeness to "the situation." I just don't think speculation is the basis for a good FPP here. The fact that Cowher has said his decision will be announced next week means there will be plenty of opportunity to discuss the issue when Cowher makes the decision. I will admit that I am a bit miffed (and only a bit) at your decision to link to a Cincinnati newspaper article. There are plenty of articles on the Post Gazette's site about "the situation." I also know you like to post ...ummmm.... hot issues, so I must say I am not surprised :)

Posted by terrapin at 2006-12-29 10:37 AM | Reply | Flag:

Well, I've seen Bill smiling on the sidelines a lot this year, despite the pretty terrible season. I've hardly ever seen him froth at the mouth after someone screws up. To me, that's an indication he'll soon be leaving...

Posted by fabulon7 at 2006-12-29 12:55 PM | Reply | Flag:

I agree with Carson Palmer, Bill Cowher is too good (and too young) to be gone forever. The strut and jutting jaw with the remnants of spittle will prowl another sideline soon. Keep your umbrellas close by.

Posted by Tokens0605 at 2006-12-29 10:33 PM | Reply | Flag:

And this still isn't news, it is still rumor. true, but it's still a very STRONG rumor. Put it this way, as a fellow Steeler fan I would be SHOCKED if he did decide to stay. The writing appears to all be on the wall and rcade is just showing everyone the wall :-)

Posted by bdaddy at 2006-12-30 01:22 PM | Reply | Flag:

And this still isn't news, it is still rumor. Well, it's news to me.

Posted by Lester at 2006-12-30 02:50 PM | Reply | Flag:

Take a year off and come back and coach another team your too good of a coach to retire

Posted by luther70 at 2006-12-30 02:57 PM | Reply | Flag:

If he stays, I will be very happy. If he leaves, I will be sad. (just like I was when Lloyd, Green, Woodson, Burress, Kirkland, et al left.) But the Steelers will survive, and who knows, maybe come out better in the long run. I don"t think anyone did themselves bodily harm when Chuck Noll retired, so we will abide.

Posted by steelergirl at 2006-12-30 09:30 PM | Reply | Flag:

Post Gazette says the Steelers expect him to retire.

Posted by SummersEve at 2006-12-31 12:17 PM | Reply | Flag:

Maybe I'm just being picky but the headline Steelers expect Cowher to quit (from SummersEve's article) just doesn't seem right to me. It makes him sound like a loser or a failure. Retire seems much more appropriate than quit.

Posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 2006-12-31 12:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

This just in, Bill Cowher still has NOT made a decision. Repeat, Bill Cowher still has NOT made a decision about his future in Pittsburgh. I can't find the Las Vegas odds on his return, but with rumors running so rampant, it is ASSUMED at least 2-1 against. YYM, while I agree with you somewhat, since he still has a year left on his contract he would technically be quitting. Also, as many have pointed out, he is only, what, forty-nine? So he may return, meaning he will not have retired. Kinda like boxers.

Posted by terrapin at 2007-01-04 05:52 PM | Reply | Flag:

The Steelers have called a press conference for Fri, Jan 5 at 1pm regarding Cowher.

Posted by SummersEve at 2007-01-04 07:27 PM | Reply | Flag:

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