Former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren hasn’t been coy about his interest in returning to the Seahawks in a front-office capacity. One day after G.M. Tim Ruskell resigned, Holmgren said he’d “absolutely” like to talk.
But the feeling apparently isn’t “absolutely” mutual.
ESPN’s John Clayton reports that the search firm lining up candidates for the General Manager position has not contacted Holmgren. Though it’s possible that Holmgren has been contacted directly by the Seahawks, the fact that the Seahawks are moving slowly and the reality that Holmgren wants to move quickly suggests that the Seahawks aren’t interested in Holmgren, and that they’re trying to avoid saying so.
If that’s the case, it’s not a surprise. As we recently pointed out, CEO Tod Leiweke might not be inclined to sit through an encore of the Big Show, given that Leiweke is now in position to finagle top billing.
Though the failure to pursue Holmgren might not go over well in Seattle, he’s smart enough to take the hint. And with the Browns ready to give him the keys to the franchise and by all appearances no non-football guy like Leiweke in a position to have his turf threatened there, Cleveland makes the most sense for Holmgren.