New deal: Holmgren says fire burning

KIRKLAND — Mike Holmgren remained as Seahawks coach beyond the 2006 season because of three things: a wish to stay in Seattle, his health and his competitive desire to coach.

After talking with his wife, Kathy, the Holmgrens knew they wanted to stay in Seattle. Then came the question of Holmgren's health, which had to be considered in light of the stress that comes with being an NFL coach and the fact Holmgren experienced chest discomfort during the team's June 2005 minicamp.

Holmgren had his heart examined and doctors found nothing wrong.

And finally, Holmgren felt the Seahawks are on the verge of "something special," and proclaimed that the team had "unfinished business" after losing in their first Super Bowl appearance in February.

In the end, an invigorated Holmgren, looking relaxed in a light-colored shirt and suntanned on Wednesday, decided he had more coaching left in him. He signed a two-year contract extension through 2008.

The 57-year-old Holmgren said he felt "revitalized" after taking several months following the end of the 2005 season to assess whether he would like to continue on as a coach.

"After doing it for a while, the idea of getting a little bit worn down and not really being able to be fair with the players and organization and giving them everything they deserve ... it's a question that comes up," Holmgren said. "I can honestly say that that fire burns inside of me still, very brightly."

The Seahawks agreed.

Holmgren's extension is worth between $15.5 million and $17 million over the two years, according to an ESPN.comreport. But Holmgren's agent, Bob LaMonte, would not confirm those numbers. Holmgren is to be paid $7 million this season, which would have been the last of his original eight-year deal signed in 1999.

Holmgren plans to honor the duration of the extension. He will remain as coach and executive vice president. Asked if he'll quit coaching at the end of the contract, Holmgren said he wasn't sure.

"If I'm still feeling the fire and still doing what people think is a decent job, who knows?" he said.

Holmgren spoke with team owner Paul Allen, who was in London, by phone on Wednesday morning. Allen brought Holmgren to Seattle in 1999.

"I thanked him for being a great owner to me, and for sticking with me," Holmgren said. "He is really on board with this thing."

Holmgren, who turns 58 next month, has been coaching in the NFL since 1986, when he was the San Francisco 49ers' quarterbacks coach. He coached the Green Bay Packers from 1992 through 1998. Holmgren guided the Packers to two Super Bowls and won one in 1996.

In 1999, Holmgren became the Seahawks' coach, general manager and vice president and led the team to the playoffs that season. Seattle didn't return until 2003, after Holmgren had stepped down as GM.

The Seahawks have been to the postseason every year since, and last season Holmgren became just the fifth NFL coach to take two different teams to a Super Bowl. His career record as an NFL coach is 138-86 and his postseason mark is 11-9. He is 63-49 with the Seahawks and 2-4 in the playoffs.

On Wednesday, it was a time to briefly look back but more to look ahead.

"Thank you," Kathy Holmgren said to Seahawks president Tim Ruskell at the end of the news conference. "Thank you for everything."

Notes

• The Seahawks confirmed that they have agreed to a contract with Ruston Webster, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' director of player personnel, to join the Seahawks' front office in a capacity yet to be determined. Webster and Ruskell are longtime friends and former co-workers in Tampa Bay, and a formal announcement on Webster's signing is expected in the coming days.

• Holmgren said the team will hand out NFC championship rings to players and staff next month.

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com