RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks have said that
Mike Holmgren will not rejoin the team.
The Seahawks talked with Holmgren over the weekend about
a senior leadership position.
"After a series of respectful discussions, Mike has
declined our offer to rejoin the team given the structure we proposed," Seahawks
CEO Tod Leiweke said in a statement. "We hold Mike in high regard and wish the
Holmgren family the very best with their new horizons."
The 61-year-old Holmgren won a Super Bowl with the
Packers and led the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl appearance as a head
coach.
"I sincerely thank Paul Allen and Tod for all their
support over the years," Holmgren said in a statement. "I thank them for
reaching out to me and we conclude these discussions as friends."
Holmgren has also been interested in joining the
Cleveland Browns. He spent two days meeting with Browns owner Randy Lerner
earlier this week.
Holmgren said on his radio show in Seattle on Friday that
he planned to give Lerner an answer "sooner than later" but added there was no
definite timetable. It may have accelerated after he declined an offer to rejoin
the Seahawks.
"It's a wonderful opportunity for anybody," Holmgren said
of his visit to Cleveland. "It's about as good a job situation as you could ask
for in this business."
AP Sports Writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to
this report.