NFL Football: Mike Holmgren
Date of Birth: June 15, 1948
Place of Birth: San Francisco, California
Position: Head Coach
Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks
Career Record NFL: 170-111 (including playoffs)
Michael George Holmgren was born June 15, 1948 in San Francisco, California. He went to Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco and was a star QB for the school. He was named Prep Athlete of the Year in 1965 while at ALHS.
Holmgren went onto USC to play QB and was part of their 1967 National Championship team. A knee injury slowed him up in college, but he was still drafted in the 8th round by the NFL’s St Louis Cardinals in the 1970 NFL Draft. He ended up in camp for the Cardinals and then moved over to the Jets camp, but nothing materialized.
He coached high schools in Northern California for 9 years, even winning a Central Coast Section championship while coaching Oak Grove High School in San Jose, California.
College Coaching Career
Holmgren started his collegiate coaching career with the San Francisco State Gators in 1981. He was there for one year, serving as the QB Coach and Offensive Coordinator.
Holmgren then went onto BYU where he took on the QBs Coach role again. His tenure at BYU saw him run highly potent offenses led by QB’s Steve Young and Robbie Bosco.
Steve Young of course turned out to be on the best QB’s in the NFL while Bosco led the team to a National Championship before being drafted by Green Bay in the 1985 NFL Draft. An injury would derail his career.
Holmgren also came across a guy at BYU he would work with and against a lot in the future…Andy Reid.
Northwest Coach Profile: Mike Holmgren
NFL Coaching Career
San Francisco 49ers
Holmgren started his NFL coaching career on one of the most legendary teams in history. Under Bill Walsh, Holmgren coached the QB’s from 1986-1988, working closely with both Joe Montana and Steve Young. In 1989, when George Seifert took reign of the team, Holmgren was named Offensive Coordinator.
Holmgren’s offense was ranked #1 in the NFL on the way to winning two Super Bowls.
Green Bay Packers
Holmgren was named Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1992 and would run the team until 1998. In his tenure there, the Packers went to 2 Super Bowls and won one of them.
The team won postseason games in 5 consecutive years, setting a record. Holmgren’s record in Green Bay was 75-37 and a 9-5 post season record.
Holmgren’s tenure in Green Bay is known as one of the most successful coaching stints in history with the multiple successes he achieved.
While in Green Bay, Holmgren was known for grooming his assistant to move on to their own head coaching careers.
This list includes Steve Mariucci, Andy Reid, Ray Rhodes, Dick Jauron, Marty Mornhinweg and Jon Gruden.
Seattle Seahawks
Holmgren took the reigns of the Seattle Seahawks in 1999 and would run the team until 2008. When he first came to the team, he held multiple titles of Head Coach, Executive Vice President, and General Manager.
He just became head coach after the 2002 season.
The Seahawks broke a 10 year playoff drought under Holmgren, reaching the playoffs in the first year he came to town. The team was 72-56 with a 3-4 postseason record under Holmgren.
The Seahawks won 5 division titles, a wild card spot, and an NFC Championship under Holmgren and even made the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl.
Like his history, Holmgren helped develop Matt Hasselbeck into a Pro Bowl QB and saw his star RB Shaun Alexander win an NFL MVP award under his watch.
Holmgren became the fifth coach in history to take 2 different teams to the Super Bowl and became the first coach to win the Steve Largent Award by the Seahawks players.
Holmgren took the Seahawks to their first ever Super Bowl
Post Seahawks/Community Involvement
Mike Holmgren took a year off after his time with the Seahawks and eventually took the President/General Manager role with the Cleveland Browns.
Holmgren did lots of small charity events for Seattle along with his wife, Kathy. They are big in their church’s community efforts and even started a Holmgren Sports Complex at North Park University in Chicago.
MY Top 5 Memorable Mike Holmgren Moments in Seattle
These are MY 5. NOT your 5!!!
5. First season in, first playoff trip
In Mike Holmgren’s first season as head coach of the Seahawks, he took the team to the playoffs, snapping a 10 year drought for the team. The team lost that game, but it set a precedent for the future.
4. First playoff win
In 2005, the Seahawks beat the Redskins for their first postseason win since the 1984 season. The 21 year drought was snapped en route to the biggest moment in Seattle history.
3. Taking back the Tundra
The Seahawks were slated to head to Green Bay in a Holmgren return to his previous home. Seattle stomped on Brett Favre and the Packers to easily win that match.
2. His last stand
In the final home game of Holmgren’s career, the Seahawks won a snowy battle against the Jets 13-3. After the game, Holgmren walked around the stadium to say goodbye to the beloved 12th man who loved him like he loved the team and the city.
1. Super Bowl XL
Obviously the biggest moment in Seattle Seahawks history. A tragic loss, but a big step in team history as the Seahawks rolled through the NFC and faced off against the STEALers in the 40th playing of the Super Bowl.
Want to see the whole list of Seahawks Moments In Time: Mike Holmgren Top 10? Just click HERE to check it out!
About Brandon Choate
