Tag: Bill Cowher

Ben Roethlisberger wishes he had more time with Steelers HOF HC Bill Cowher

SiriusXM NFL Radio stopped in Pittsburgh and got a chance to talk to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger about legendary HC Bill Cowher. 

SiriusXM’s Training Camp Tour recently stopped at Pittsburgh Steelers camp and got a chance to talk to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger about legendary head coach Bill Cowher.

“It’s so humbling to have played for a Hall of Fame coach,” said Roethlisberger on SiriusXM’s Movin’ the Chains. Cowher was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday as part of the Centennial Class of 2020.

Several years after he’d retired, Cowher told Roethlisberger that as a rookie, he had two options. “‘I could’ve treated you like you were God’s gift to the Steelers or I could’ve treated you like a crappy, young kid. And I chose the crappy young kid,'” Roethlisberger shared with a smile.

The latter worked because Ben Roethlisberger had a record of 13-0 his rookie season.

It wasn’t until Cowher and the Steelers selected Big Ben 11th overall in the 2004 NFL draft that the Steelers really started going places.

After 14 attempts, in the 2005 season, Cowher finally got his team to the big show and won it. The Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl 40.

Roethlisberger said he and his teammates knew Cowher would be heading to the Hall, especially after the Super Bowl win.

“What he meant and means to the city of Pittsburgh… I’d say it’s unparallell but you have Coach Chuck and now Mike, but the tradition and what he means is truly something special.”

In just three seasons under head coach Bill Cowher, Roethlisberger threw for 8,521 yards and 52 touchdowns. When he retired following the 2006 season, the Steelers had a record of 29 and 11 and a Lombardi Trophy for their efforts.

“I love playing with Mike, I’m not taking anything away from Mike,” Roethlisberger said. “I wish I could’ve played with Coach Cowher later in my career, too.”

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Bill Cowher: Ben Roethlisberger ‘thriving’ on being underestimated

Now 15 seasons removed from being his head coach, Bill still knows Ben.

Before Bill Cowher retired from football and the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was Ben Roethlisberger’s first pro football coach. They were together for three successful seasons, and one improbable Super Bowl win.

These days, Cowher’s job is to analyze the Steelers and 31 other teams for “The NFL Today” on CBS.

When asked to analyze the 2021 Ben Roethlisberger, he pointed to characteristics the quarterback has always had.

“It was never too big for him. I think what you’ve seen him do through a period of time, and consistently, year in and year out, he’s a great competitor,” Cowher said on a recent Zoom call with Steelers media. “I’m sure he’s just thriving right now on that everybody thinks he’s done, thinks the Steelers are done,” Cowher said.

In the three years Big Ben was under Cowher’s wing, he threw for 8,521 yards and 52 touchdowns.

Roethlisberger had one of the best seasons of his career with 3,803 yards and 33 touchdowns just last year. Cowher said it would surprise him if he didn’t have another great season this year.

It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that he can continue on that tear, especially if he thrives being underestimated by Steelers fans and prognosticators.

Cowher also made a surprising statement about his former quarterback’s Hall of Fame candidacy.

“He’s a Hall of Fame player — first ballot, no question about it — but yet he continues to play the game with a great passion, as a great competitor, and I think you’ll see that this year.”

Not only does Cowher see Roethlisberger as a Hall of Famer, but a first-ballot at that.

Heading into his 18th season, it’s clear Roethlisberger still has what it takes to lead the Steelers, but can he lead them all the way to a Super Bowl?

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Bill Cowher: Ben Roethlisberger ‘thriving’ on being underestimated

Now 15 seasons removed from being his head coach, Bill still knows Ben.

Before Bill Cowher retired from football and the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was Ben Roethlisberger’s first pro football coach. They were together for three successful seasons, and one improbable Super Bowl win.

These days, Cowher’s job is to analyze the Steelers and 31 other teams for “The NFL Today” on CBS.

When asked to analyze the 2021 Ben Roethlisberger, he pointed to characteristics the quarterback has always had.

“It was never too big for him. I think what you’ve seen him do through a period of time, and consistently, year in and year out, he’s a great competitor,” Cowher said on a recent Zoom call with Steelers media. “I’m sure he’s just thriving right now on that everybody thinks he’s done, thinks the Steelers are done,” Cowher said.

In the three years Big Ben was under Cowher’s wing, he threw for 8,521 yards and 52 touchdowns.

Roethlisberger had one of the best seasons of his career with 3,803 yards and 33 touchdowns just last year. Cowher said it would surprise him if he didn’t have another great season this year.

It’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that he can continue on that tear, especially if he thrives being underestimated by Steelers fans and prognosticators.

Cowher also made a surprising statement about his former quarterback’s Hall of Fame candidacy.

“He’s a Hall of Fame player — first ballot, no question about it — but yet he continues to play the game with a great passion, as a great competitor, and I think you’ll see that this year.”

Not only does Cowher see Roethlisberger as a Hall of Famer, but a first-ballot at that.

Heading into his 18th season, it’s clear Roethlisberger still has what it takes to lead the Steelers, but can he lead them all the way to a Super Bowl?

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Following retirement, Bill Cowher left Mike Tomlin more than a Super Bowl caliber team

It wasn’t just a Super Bowl-caliber team that Bill Cowher bequeathed to Mike Tomlin.

There isn’t a handbook on how to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers. There wasn’t an opportunity to shadow or a training manual. A luxury some jobs offer, Bill Cowher wasn’t there to show Mike Tomlin the daily intricacies of his new position.

“I don’t think anyone can tell you specifically how to be a head coach,” Cowher wrote in his new book “Heart and Steel.” “Every dynamic is a little different. Everything is coming your way, and you have to catch it, quickly decide how to handle it, and keep moving.”

When Tomlin transitioned from defensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings to head coach of the Steelers in 2007, it was any head coach’s dream gig. Stacked with talent, the team had just won a Super Bowl in 2006 and was on the brink of returning to greatness.

But it wasn’t just a Super Bowl-caliber team that Cowher bequeathed to Tomlin. He also left a can of Iron City beer in his office fridge. Apparently, the can remains unopened.

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Bill Cowher justifies Bill Belichick, Spygate with detailed arguement

“It’s only cheating if you get caught.”

Seth Wickersham resurfaced Spygate last week with an ESPN story saying that Donald Trump intervened with the investigation.

Bill Belichick was fined, the New England Patriots were fined and the team lost out on a first-round draft pick as a result from videotaping New York Jets coaches in 2007. The incident widely lingered over Belichick’s head and it put a magnifying glass on incidents like Deflategate.

Hall of Fame head coach Bill Cowher caught up with Ed Bouchette of The Athletic and discussed the 2007 situation.

“It’s only cheating if you get caught,” Cowher said. “Like any player, if you’re going to hold him, don’t get caught. If you get caught you’re wrong, if you don’t you’re right. I always thought we never lost the games to New England because of Spygate. If he got the calls because we didn’t do a very good job of making sure we signaled those in, that’s on us, it’s not on him. Because we’re always looking for competitive edges. I think as any coach whether it’s someone’s stance, someone’s split, someone’s formation (that tips off a play). You’re looking at someone’s eyes, how are they coming out of a huddle? You’re always looking for those little things that give you a competitive edge and that to me is what that was.”

Cowher coached the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1992-2006 and lost two AFC Championship games to the Patriots — he didn’t blame it on cheating though.

“We didn’t lose the game because of that,” Cowher said. “We lost the game because they executed better than we did.”

He discussed his relationship with Belichick and detailed the history between the two.

“We go back pretty far,” Cowher said. “I have a lot of respect for him. He loves the game. We shared a lot of time together and time off the field, teaching each other about linebacker play and defensive backfield play. It came down to us being finalists for the 1991 Cleveland Browns job and he got the job and I didn’t. We went from friends to adversaries the next year because I found myself the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. As we competed against each other it was just a great competition.”

There’s many different perspectives on Belichick and the cheating scandals — Cowher holds a unique one.

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Bill Cowher on HOF induction: ‘I’ve always looked good in gold’

Bill Cowher has waited a long time for this moment, and it won’t be long now until August.

Good things come to those who wait. Bill Cowher has had to wait longer than most for the gold jacket since hearing he would be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

It’s been 16 months since Hall of Fame president David Baker surprised Cowher with the enshrinement news on the set of CBS Sports.

The 2020 Hall of Fame induction was scrapped due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns, but the two classes will be inducted over two days in August.

Cowher received his gold jacket as the 331st member of the Hall of Fame, and, of course, he made sure the reveal was caught on camera.

“I’ve always looked good in gold,” Cowher said, flashing that Hall of Fame smile.

That gold jacket will look great on you, Coach!

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Bill Cowher shares beautiful story in wake of Marty Schottenheimer’s passing

Cowher paid tribute to his friend and mentor, Marty Schottenheimer, via a message on Twitter.

Longtime NFL coach and Pittsburgh-area native Marty Schottenheimer died Tuesday at age 77. He had battled Alzheimer’s Disease since 2014.

Players, colleagues and friends took to social media to share their condolences and memories of Schottenheimer.

Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher posted a touching tribute to his friend and mentor on Twitter.

“He mentored me from the moment I met him,” wrote Cowher. He was an amazing coach, teacher, leader, and most importantly, my friend.”

Schottenheimer was defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns when Cowher, 23, played linebacker.

After Cowher’s playing days were done, Schottenheimer, now Browns head coach, hired him as special teams coordinator in 1985. He was promoted to defensive backs coach in 1987.

When Schottenheimer resigned in Cleveland and was quickly snapped up by the Kansas City Chiefs, he took Cowher with him. Cowher served under Schottenheimer as defensive coordinator from 1989 to 1991.

It was because of Schottenheimer that Cowher got a chance to coach in the NFL. Ultimately, Schottenheimer guided and prepared Cowher for his head coach role with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Steelers ownership will never fire Mike Tomlin, and here’s why

The Steelers 2020 season was barely over when the “Fire Tomlin” cries started on social media.

The Steelers 2020 season was barely over when the “fire Tomlin” cries started on social media — there are select fans from whom it’s never-ending.

For years, I was in the camp of “The Steelers shouldn’t get rid of Mike Tomlin. Who are we gonna get to replace him?!” But I’m beginning to see that being in that camp is being satisfied with the Standard is the Standard. Season after disappointing season — for the last 10 years — the Steelers have standard regular seasons and flop in the postseason — if they make it there.

Perhaps the standard shouldn’t be the standard anymore. Perhaps the bar needs to be set higher. Is Tomlin capable of that? It seems only a fresh perspective from a new head coach could solve the Steelers’ run-of-the-mill seasons — where, if Pittsburgh even makes the playoffs, coaches and players are woefully unprepared, and they exit ungracefully with their heads down.

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A recent article from TribLive’s Tim Benz opened my mind about the Steelers ousting Tomlin. We shouldn’t wonder who is going to replace him. Just trust the process because ownership knows a thing or two.

Benz referenced Matt LaFleur (Packers), Sean McDermott (Bills) and Kevin Stefanski (Browns) to make his case for the caliber of coach the Steelers could get if they went in a different direction. All three are former coordinators who made a successful transition into the head coaching ranks.

 

Tried and true philosophy

While that’s all well and good, we know it’s not going to happen. At least not as long as Tomlin wants to coach. Anyone familiar with the history of the Steelers — and most of us are — know that the Rooney family isn’t going to stray from their head coaching philosophy. It’s one that’s tried and true; management values continuity and familiarity. Ownership isn’t going to fire Mike Tomlin. They haven’t fired a coach in 52 years and they aren’t going to now. The Rooneys will allow Tomlin to coach until he doesn’t want to coach anymore. Why? Because year after year, he’s put the Steelers in a position to win the division and make the playoffs. That’s more than a lot of teams can say.

The Rooneys have never given us a reason to doubt their process for hiring only the best.

Bill Cowher came from Kansas City, where he was the Chiefs defensive coordinator for three seasons. In his first season, the Steelers were 11-5. Chuck Noll was in charge of defensive backs with the Baltimore Colts. It took him three years to turn the Steelers around, but that was a different era, and the team had struggled for decades prior. Mike Tomlin was defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, and in his first season, Pittsburgh was 10-6 and first in the AFC North. Each one had been on NFL coaching staffs for seven to nine years before they were head coaches. These hires prove that the Rooney’s track record of hiring great, eventual Hall of Fame head coaches — they’ve never given us a reason to doubt that they can do it again.

Who knows how much longer Tomlin will reign in Pittsburgh. His current contract expires along with Ben Roethlisberger’s in 2021. Will they ride off into the sunset together?

If Tomlin retires after next season, he’ll be the same age (49) as Cowher was when he resigned and will have coached for the same span of time (15 years). Noll presided over Pittsburgh for 23 seasons.

Trust the Rooneys to scour the NFL landscape and bring on the right guy after Tomlin retires. As we know, whoever it is will be around for a long, long time.

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8 AFC East stories from last week for Bills fans to know

AFC East roundup for Buffalo Bills fans.

The Buffalo Bills have turned the final corner in the race for the AFC East title and are now in the home stretch. They can’t mess up now, can they? A win and the deed is done.

With that in full focus, keeping up with the latest divisional news seems to be of a bit more importance than usual. Let us help you get up-to-date.

Here are eight stories from the AFC East from the past week for Bills (10-3) fans to know, starting with a quick Week 14 game recap for each team: