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Mike Tomlin NOT Hired as Next Steelers Head Coach Tonight

Apparently, an Sports Illustrated report came out saying that sources within the Steelers organization were indicating that Mike Tomlin, Vikings defensive coordinator, was about to be hired as the next Steelers head coach. However, the Steelers, Mike Tomlin, Russ Grimm, and everyone else has indicated that this is not the case.

Steelers chairman Dan Rooney today denied a Sports Illustrated story that said the team had chosen Mike Tomlin as its head coach.

“There’s nothing to that story on the wire,” Mr. Rooney said of the account that appeared earlier today on SI.com.

Other sources, most unwilling to go on the record, also denied there was any truth to the story. Mr. Tomlin, the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, denied it publicly.

“It is untrue,” Mr. Tomlin told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. “I have no idea where it’s coming from. I have not talked to the Rooneys today.”

A source close to Russ Grimm said yesterday afternoon that he had heard nothing from the Steelers. Mr. Grimm, the team’s offensive line coach and assistant head coach, is one of three finalists for the job.

The other finalist, Ron Rivera, was unavailable for comment due to his being involved in the Bears playoff game. In any event, this report is being denied by everyone. While it wouldn’t surprise me if the Steelers are leaning in that direction, this is one of those coaching rumors that was quickly refuted, indicating to me that the Steelers aren’t ready for their announcement yet, and also indicating that they do not want the name of their favorite candidate out in the media yet, unlike the Cowher rumors, which after a certain point, weren’t denied any more.

UPDATE: ESPN retracts their story that the Steelers are NOT hiring Tomlin. (via Steelers Fanhouse)

Interesting. The more we hear, the more I tend to think that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. I’m not sure if we’re going to hear soon, though – maybe Monday, maybe later.

 
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