Myth Busting: Steelers Did Not Choose Mike Tomlin Over Ken Whisenhunt

As we figure out what to do with ourselves for the next week-and-a-half in anticipation of Super Bowl XLIII, we're left to try and find topics to talk about, and this can be a bad thing. Every year there's that one storyline that gets blown up and driven into the ground, relentlessly beating us over the head until we can't take it anymore.

For example: did you know Jerome Bettis is from Detroit?

Early on, the leader in the clubhouse for this year's Bettis-is-from Detroit dead horse is the connection between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, and how the Steelers, supposedly, chose Mike Tomlin over him. Even if they didn't.

On Wednesday, at the fantastic Pittsburgh sports blog, Mondesi's House, they published the following question from a reader:

"It's been a few years since the hire, and maybe I have taken too many blows to the head, but didn't Ken Whisenhunt take the Arizona job before the Steelers made their decision? Every article I've read seems to want to rewrite history to spice up the game. Take the article on nfl.com: "Steelers players always assumed that Whisenhunt was the head coach in waiting. But Rooney passed over Whisenhunt for then Minnesota defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin." Am I wrong here?" -- Jason B.

After going back and checking the timeline of events, here's what history shows us:

-- January 14, 2007: Ken Whisenhunt is introduced as the Arizona Cardinals head coach.

-- January 18, 2007: Mike Tomlin has his second interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

-- January 22, 2007: Mike Tomlin is introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach.

Whisenhunt was given head coaching duties in Arizona before the Steelers even concluded their interviews, while Tomlin was hired over a week later.

So, why the desire to pump up a storyline that doesn't even exist? Both guys have done fantastic jobs and have overcome their own unique challenges of varying degrees of difficulty. Whisenhunt, for example, has taken the blackhole that is Arizona football and guided it to a Super Bowl berth in just his second year on the job.

Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, Tomlin has followed two living legends in Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher, while also conquering what was the most difficult schedule in NFL history (at the start of the season, anyway) and winning three games of attrition with the Baltimore Ravens to reach the Super Bowl.

I'm quite certain that neither team would trade its current coach for the other team's coach. Can't we just leave it at that?

NFC Championship Images

Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell celebrates after the NFL NFC championship football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 32-25. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Matt York, AP

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 18: Quarterback Donovan McNabb #5 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on in the second quarter during the NFC championship game against the Arizona Cardinals on January 18, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donovan McNabb

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb fumbles as he is sacked by Arizona Cardinals defender Adrian Wilson in the third quarter in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. The ball was recovered by the Cardinals. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218948) [Photo via Newscom]

Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald reacts after catching a pass against the Philadelphia Eagles during fourth quarter in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Mike Blake (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree219025) [Photo via Newscom]

Mike Blake, Reuters

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 18: Running back Edgerrin James #32 of the Arizona Cardinals uses a stiff arm to get by Quintin Demps #39 of the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter during the NFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Edgerrin James;Quintin Demps

Jed Jacobsohn, Getty Images

Philadelphia Eagles receiver Jason Avant (C) loses a second quarter pass on third down as Arizona Cardinals defenders Aaron Francisco (L), Ralph Brown (2nd-L) and Adrian Wilson (R) move in during the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218860) [Photo via Newscom]

Robert Galbraith, Reuters

Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson (L) gathers a fourth quarter touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals defender Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (R) falls in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218997) [Photo via Newscom]

Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald reacts after his third touchdown reception in the second quarter of play as Philadelphia Eagles defender Sheldon Brown stands at right in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona January 18, 2009. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree218890) [Photo via Newscom]

Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie lies in the end zone after his team's win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL's NFC Championship football game in Glendale, Arizona, January 18, 2009. The Cardinals will face the AFC champions in the Super Bowl in Tampa. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith (UNITED STATES) (Newscom TagID: rtrlthree219073) [Photo via Newscom]

Robert Galbraith, Reuters

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-21-2009 @ 1:37PM

ed said...

this is correct.

anyway, the dude from 'zona that sould be pissed is russ grimm. at one point over the weekend when tomlin was eventually hired, several "news" sources reported that grimm was the new head coach, only to have Art II come out and say that no one had been hired yet, then the job eventually going to tomlin.

here we go!

1-21-2009 @ 3:47PM

Chris said...

Age was the biggest factor in Grimm and "Wizz" not being hired as the head coach in Pittsburgh. The Rooneys were looking for a younger candidate with a fresh approach to the team. Its obvious, among other qualities, that thr Rooneys like Tomlins no nonsense hard work ethic the most and he has defensive background.

I belive based on the the fact that the Steelers have only had 3 head coaches in 38 years that Tomlin being only 36 as apposed to Grimm and Wizz thier late 40's and 50's respectively that it was attractive to them for being a long term relationship.

1-21-2009 @ 4:29PM

Bob said...

Well said, Mr. Gretz. It's refreshing when a member of the press actually uses his (or her) position to DEfuse a situation, instead of the all-too-familiar approach of taking a meaningless tidbit of information and insinuating that there MAY have been some darker motives, etc., just to stir up bad blood and make a story out of thin air. Thanks.

1-21-2009 @ 5:09PM

benchsplinters said...

Well said, Super Bowl XLIII pits two coaches that are good at what they do, period! If the Steelers wanted a young guy, then why fault them? Grimm is in a good situation and is getting a tan daily, so why would he be pissed? I don't think there is any added incentive to win. I mean, aren't you already in the freakin' Super Bowl? ...

1-21-2009 @ 5:55PM

Thatsabsurd said...

And the biggest slandering liar with Jr high school girl maturity idiot in this whole lie is............Thomas George;

the freaking jackass.

1-21-2009 @ 8:17PM

john said...

Mike Tomlin is getting all this credit even though it was Dick LeBeau and his defense that got the Steelers into the SuperBowl. I'd like to know what Tomlin has done to deserve any of this superbowl apperence credit ?

1-22-2009 @ 9:31AM

raisineddie said...

Well John, first off, he asked LeBeau to stay on as D-coordinator. Nuff said

1-22-2009 @ 1:21PM

Dan Douglass said...

okay, fine...but there is SOME story here. Whiz would be a complete moron if he decided to take the AZ job over the Steelers. A MOR-ON! Whiz may have interviewed and been hired well before Tomlin was, but you CANNOT suggest that Whiz didn't first talk to the Rooney's and find out if he was a possibility!!?? OF COURSE HE DID! And when the Rooneys were honest with him before the whole process began and said they wanted to interview several candidates, Whiz felt like he didn't want to be left with nothing, so he left for a sure thing in AZ.

There is a story here, and I hate over-hyped stuff as much as the next guy...but don't believe FOR A SECOND that Whiz didn't want to be head coach of the steelers.

1-22-2009 @ 2:58PM

tbwto99 said...

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/01/21/myth-busting-steelers-did-not-choose-mike-tomlin-over-ken-whise/#comments

1-22-2009 @ 3:06PM

rory said...

I agree with Dan, even then Whisenhunt was hired prior to Tomlin its naive to dismiss the idea that he didn't want the Pittsburgh job and was growing increasingly frustrated with their laborious hiring process.

And I would also argue that "The Arizona Cardinals are in the Superbowl?" is way more of a dead-horse than the Whisenhunt story.

1-22-2009 @ 6:10PM

Oh my God Whiz is so upset about not becoming the Pittsburgh steeler head coach he can barely function.

You people are pathetic. Whiz is happy never was a upset about the job in pgh. Rooneys talked to him but he said he had other notions.

Now who the hell wouldn't want to be in Whiz's shoes?

Grow up people want Drama go to your local Junior High and sit with the girls during lunch.

1-23-2009 @ 2:17PM

Just to make things a little clearer for Dan and rory, I saw an actual interview with Ken Whisenhunt, and the man himself states that while the Steelers were weighing their options (with Ken as a definite top candidate), the Cardinals position was a definitive offer of employment. Ken said it was basically a "bird in the hand" decision--he KNEW he had the Arizona position if he wanted it, while the Pittsburgh position was still up in the air. He didn't want to take the chance of missing BOTH opportunities, which he would have if the Steelers had eventually decided to look elsewhere AFTER the Cardinals' had filled their spot with whoever number two might have been. I hope this clears it up a bit.

1-25-2009 @ 1:10PM

BUDDHA10 said...

Seriously who cares. Obviously they are both great coaches or their teams wouldn't be where they are today. Both teams made good choices and so did the coaches. Go STEELERS!!!!!