Seattle Seahawks Name Next Head Coach, Jim Mora to Succeed Mike Holmgren in 2009

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This was sort of an unusual appointment, but it’s the second such NFL head coach hiring in the past month. Seattle Seahawks defensive assistant Jim Mora Jr. was named the team’s new head coach — in 2009! That’s right, Coach Mora will continue to serve as defensive assistant while current head coach Mike Holmgren returns for one more season. The ‘Hawks just didn’t want to waste any time in naming his successor. Seattle is not the first NFL team to designate a successor coach. The Indianapolis Colts recently announced Jim Caldwell as the replacement for Tony Dungy, whenever Coach Dungy decides to retire. At least Coach Mora knows when he is going to take over.

One person with knowledge of Coach Mora’s contract said it will put him “in the upper echelon” of NFL coaches. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Seahawks do not divulge financial terms. Doing some quick math, that means Coach Mora will be getting at least $5 million per season, about double what Atlanta is paying him this year. Yes, Atlanta is still paying him. Coach Mora was fired as the Falcons’ head coach on New Year’s Day 2007 with a year left on his contract. Coach Holmgren is believed to be making $8 million annually. I can see why he came back for another season. What a business. I love it.

I don’t think this is a great idea. I’d like to look over a long list of potential candidates at the end of the 2008 season. But if you feel you’ve already got the right man for the job in your house, you might as well lock him in. The Seahawks obviously feel that way about Coach Mora, so they didn’t delay the announcement. And they didn’t give any other teams have a chance to steal him away.

AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, FILE