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Raiders will wait on Steelers' Whisenhunt
Nancy Gay, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The Pittsburgh Steelers' dominating performance in Sunday's AFC Championship Game has focused even more of the Raiders' attention on Ken Whisenhunt.
Already, the team had done some homework on Pittsburgh's no-nonsense offensive coordinator, who has been credited with keeping the Steelers' running game fresh and helping mold second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into a playoff-savvy performer.
In the wake of the Steelers' 34-17 rout of the Broncos, it now appears the Raiders -- the last of 10 NFL teams to fill a head-coaching vacancy -- might be willing to wait until after Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5 to interview Whisenhunt.
"He's at the top of their list,'' said a person familiar with Whisenhunt and the Raiders' search. "They'll be patient on this.''
Whisenhunt, 43, just completed his second season as the Steelers' offensive coordinator, previously having served as the team's tight ends coach. He also was an offensive assistant with the Jets, Browns and Ravens.
The Georgia Tech graduate played nine NFL seasons as a tight end/H-back for the Atlanta Falcons (1985-88), Washington Redskins (1989-90) and New York Jets (1991-93). He caught 62 passes for 601 yards and six touchdowns, and also played special teams.
Whisenhunt's game plans -- he favors a strong running game to establish balance -- and teaching ability attracted him to other teams as well, and he has interviewed well for other openings. He was a finalist for the vacancy in St. Louis; the Rams eventually hired Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Whisenhunt also interviewed for the Texans' opening, which was filled by Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
The Steelers' record playoff run -- they are the only sixth-seeded team to advance to the Super Bowl -- has prevented other teams from pursuing Whisenhunt, a problem that once haunted many of the Patriots' assistants.
Now, it appears the Raiders, who have been without a head coach since Norv Turner was dismissed Jan. 3, might be in position to offer Whisenhunt what he apparently wants: a head-coaching position.
In the interim, the Raiders are expected to interview at least one other candidate, possibly former Packers coach Mike Sherman, a finalist for the Bills' job. That position went to Dick Jauron.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/01/24/SPGE8GS5QB1.DTL
Nancy Gay, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
The Pittsburgh Steelers' dominating performance in Sunday's AFC Championship Game has focused even more of the Raiders' attention on Ken Whisenhunt.
Already, the team had done some homework on Pittsburgh's no-nonsense offensive coordinator, who has been credited with keeping the Steelers' running game fresh and helping mold second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into a playoff-savvy performer.
In the wake of the Steelers' 34-17 rout of the Broncos, it now appears the Raiders -- the last of 10 NFL teams to fill a head-coaching vacancy -- might be willing to wait until after Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5 to interview Whisenhunt.
"He's at the top of their list,'' said a person familiar with Whisenhunt and the Raiders' search. "They'll be patient on this.''
Whisenhunt, 43, just completed his second season as the Steelers' offensive coordinator, previously having served as the team's tight ends coach. He also was an offensive assistant with the Jets, Browns and Ravens.
The Georgia Tech graduate played nine NFL seasons as a tight end/H-back for the Atlanta Falcons (1985-88), Washington Redskins (1989-90) and New York Jets (1991-93). He caught 62 passes for 601 yards and six touchdowns, and also played special teams.
Whisenhunt's game plans -- he favors a strong running game to establish balance -- and teaching ability attracted him to other teams as well, and he has interviewed well for other openings. He was a finalist for the vacancy in St. Louis; the Rams eventually hired Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Whisenhunt also interviewed for the Texans' opening, which was filled by Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak.
The Steelers' record playoff run -- they are the only sixth-seeded team to advance to the Super Bowl -- has prevented other teams from pursuing Whisenhunt, a problem that once haunted many of the Patriots' assistants.
Now, it appears the Raiders, who have been without a head coach since Norv Turner was dismissed Jan. 3, might be in position to offer Whisenhunt what he apparently wants: a head-coaching position.
In the interim, the Raiders are expected to interview at least one other candidate, possibly former Packers coach Mike Sherman, a finalist for the Bills' job. That position went to Dick Jauron.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2006/01/24/SPGE8GS5QB1.DTL