Holmgren in Control With Seahawks

KIRKLAND, Wash. â€”  Mike Holmgren wanted total control. The Seattle Seahawks gave it to him, not to mention $4 million a year, to become their coach and general manager Friday.

Holmgren got an eight-year contract that reportedly will pay him $4 million a season, making him the highest-paid coach in the NFL. George Seifert will be paid $2.5 million to coach the Carolina Panthers.

The Seahawks, a franchise that has missed the playoffs for 10 seasons in a row, got their man and they paid a high price for him.

“With the NBA lockout, I wasn’t in midseason form with these agents,� said Bob Whitsitt, who also is president of owner Paul Allen’s Portland Trail Blazers. “I should have been in better form at this time of the year.�

Holmgren, who took the Packers to the last two Super Bowls, told Whitsitt on Friday morning that he was accepting the job and canceled trips to Baltimore and Philadelphia for job interviews.

He called the Packers to tell them they’d have to find a new coach to work with Green Bay General Manager Ron Wolf.

Holmgren was accompanied to Seattle by his wife, Kathy, and the youngest of their four daughters, Gretchen. He said he reached a decision to accept the Seattle job Thursday night after having dinner with Allen.

“Obviously the commitment is here,� Holmgren said, referring to Allen, who has spent lavishly on free agents the past two seasons.

After meeting with Whitsitt at team headquarters for five hours Thursday, he spent Thursday night at Allen’s house.

“My first impression was awesome,� Holmgren said of Allen, who is listed as the third-richest American behind Bill Gates and Warren Buffett with a total worth of $22 billion.

“We had a wonderful time last night. He’s a very interesting man, interested in a lot of things. I knew right away that I had all the support I could ever need or ask for right away.�

Most important for Holmgren, 50, was becoming general manager as well as coach.

“I’ll be in charge of the football operations,� he said during a news conference. “Decision-making, personnel, all football decisions. Now, I’ll have both [coach and general manager] those responsibilities.�

Holmgren compiled a 75-37 record as coach of the Packers, leading them to a victory over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl after the 1996 season. Last season, Green Bay lost in the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos.

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Packing His Bags

Mike Holmgren’s head coaching record with the Green Bay Packers a nd finishes in NFC Central Division (* Super Bowl champion; # Reached Super Bowl):

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Year Record Finish 1992 9-7 2nd 1993 9-7 2nd 1994 9-7 2nd 1995 11-5 1st 1996 *13-3 1st 1997 #13-3 1st 1998 11-5 2nd Total 75-37 .669

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