KIRKLAND, Wash. (May 17, 2006) -- Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren isn't going anywhere after all.
Holmgren agreed to a contract extension with the team, and said he appreciated being given time to consider staying through 2008. Terms weren't disclosed. His agent, Bob LaMonte, didn't return phone calls or e-mails seeking contract terms.
"We're all pulling in the same direction and there's a lot of very, very positive things going on in this organization," Holmgren said.
Team president Tim Ruskell said Holmgren "is a great fit for this team."
The architect and play caller for the NFL's highest-scoring offense in 2005, Holmgren was entering the final season of his $35 million, eight-year contract, which was to pay him $7 million this season. He signed that deal upon arriving in Seattle in 1999 from Green Bay, where he was the Packers' coach from 1992-98 and won a Super Bowl.
LaMonte was in the Seattle area last week for two days of discussions with Seahawks executives.
Holmgren acknowledged those discussions were complicated. He said in March that he would like to return to the general manager-type duties he had over his first four years in Seattle. But second-year president Tim Ruskell currently has the GM role in Seattle.
"Now there's a little more to talk about, in fairness to everybody," Holmgren said last week after his agent met with the Seahawks.
Those were the first contract negotiations since Holmgren said in late March that he was "thinking about what I want to do, honestly.
"I wanted us to win the Super Bowl and ride off on a white horse," he said then.
Holmgren, who turns 58 next month, has four daughters and four granddaughters. Six weeks ago, he talked of spending more time with them and his wife, Kathy.
But last week, he said for the first time he decided he wanted to continue beyond a 15th season as an NFL head coach.
The San Francisco native and former 49ers offensive coordinator won a Super Bowl with the Packers after the 1996 season.
His new contract completes what has been an almost perfect Seattle spring.
In March, the Seahawks re-signed NFL MVP Shaun Alexander for $62 million and eight years -- with $15.1 million guaranteed. They also brought back his Pro Bowl blocking back, Mack Strong.
Then in April, they replaced departed free-agent receiver Joe Jurevicius with the younger, faster Nate Burleson. The Seattle native and Minnesota Vikings' restricted free agent signed for $49 million and seven years.
On defense, Seattle signed former San Francisco 49ers two-time Pro Bowler Julian Peterson ($54 million, seven years, $18.5 million guaranteed). And it drafted Kelly Jennings 31st overall to fill a huge need for a starting cornerback.
The only blip to the Seahawks offseason was when All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson left for Minnesota. He signed a tricky, unprecedented free-agent offer sheet with the Vikings that had guarantee provisions Seattle couldn't match.
