Bill Cowher won’t be back on the NFL sidelines in 2014.
After rumors circulated that the former Pittsburgh Steelers coach was considering a return to the NFL, a source close to Cowher said he has no intention to leave his job as a Sunday football analyst on CBS. The source told ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter that Bill Cowher actually intends to remain out of coaching “for a few more years.”
In the past few days there had been a gaining buzz that Bill Cowher was in the running for the Washington Redskins vacancy. The team fired head coach Mike Shanahan after a disappointing 3-13 season and growing tension between Shanahan and quarterback Robert Griffin III.
To many, Cowher seemed a good fit for the job. The Redskins have been known to pick established coaches rather than up-and-coming assistants, and Cowher would have had a bright young quarterback in Griffin and a committed owner in Daniel Snyder.
The rumors of Cowher’s return have been a staple of the postseason for the past few years. As new crops of teams fire their coaches, his name inevitably comes up as a candidate.
Last year his name was mentioned in connection to several openings, and CBS Radio in New York even reported that the New York Jets were interested in moving him to the front office after the team fired GM Mike Tannenbaum.
But Cowher has kept the possibility open of a return to coaching, and because he is highly sought after could have his pick of teams.
Bill Cowher ( @CowherCBS ) says there’s “nothing to” the rumor he’ll return to coaching, but the “door is never closed.”
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 3, 2014
Bill Cowher spent 15 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leading the team to a Super Bowl win, eight divisional titles, and 10 playoff appearances. He joined CBS as a studio analyst in 2007.
