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 Holmgren in 2004 | |
| No. 19 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1948-06-15)June 15, 1948 (age 77) San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Weight | 245 lb (111 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Abraham Lincoln(San Francisco, California) |
| College | USC (1966–1969) |
| NFL draft | 1970: 8th round, 201st overall pick |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Coaching | |
| |
Operations | |
| |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season | 161–111 (.592) |
| Postseason | 13–11 (.542) |
| Career | 174–122 (.588) |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Michael George Holmgren (born June 15, 1948) is an American formerfootball coach and executive in theNational Football League (NFL). He began his NFL career as aquarterbacks' coach and later as anoffensive coordinator with theSan Francisco 49ers, where they wonSuper Bowls XXIII andXXIV. He served as the head coach of theGreen Bay Packers from1992 to1998, where he wonSuper Bowl XXXI, and of theSeattle Seahawks from1999 to2008. His last role in the NFL was as team president of theCleveland Browns from2010 to2012. Prior to his career in the NFL, Holmgren coached football at the high school and collegiate levels.
Holmgren is noted for his role in molding quarterbacks such asSteve Young,Brett Favre, andMatt Hasselbeck during his tenures in San Francisco, Green Bay, and Seattle, respectively.Joe Montana won his two MVP awards under the direction of Holmgren in 1989 and 1990.
Under Holmgren's leadership and play-calling, theGreen Bay Packers were consistent winners and never had a losing season. He was considered one of the best coaches in the NFL by many fellow coaches and players. He led the Packers to their 12th league championship inSuper Bowl XXXI, a 35–21 win over theNew England Patriots; and also reachedSuper Bowl XXXII. Under Holmgren the Seahawks also became a frequent playoff team, including five division titles and the franchise's firstSuper Bowl appearance inSuper Bowl XL. In total, Holmgren won eight division titles as a head coach to go along with twelve playoff appearances, three NFC Championships and one Super Bowl.
As president of the Cleveland Browns, Holmgren failed to improve the team, which had a record of 5–11 the season before his arrival, and 14–34 in his tenure. Despite Holmgren's reputation as a quarterback guru, the Browns fielded three different opening-day starters in his three years with the team. In the face of much criticism in the media and new ownership, he was released by the Browns in November 2012.
He is a weekday daily guest throughout the football season on Seattle radio stationSports Radio KJR across various shows. As of 2021, Holmgren also works as a guest analyst for Super Bowl broadcasts onWestwood One.
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Holmgren started out as a tight end before becoming a standout quarterback and punter at San Francisco's Abraham Lincoln High School where he was named "Prep Athlete of the Year" in 1965 and graduated in 1966.
Holmgren continued his playing career inLos Angeles as aquarterback at theUniversity of Southern California from1966 to1969, and was a member of theSigma Chifraternity. As a sophomore, he was on USC'snational championship team of1967. Holmgren played behind starterSteve Sogge in 1967 and1968. A shoulder injury put him behind sophomoreJimmy Jones in 1969; he earned his bachelor's degree in 1970.
Although a backup, Holmgren was selected in the1970 NFL draft by theSt. Louis Cardinals; taken in theeighth round (201st overall), he went to camp with both the Cardinals and theNew York Jets that year.
Holmgren's coaching career began in 1971 at his alma mater,Abraham Lincoln High School inSan Francisco, where he also taught history. One year later, he moved to San Francisco'sSacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory as a teacher and assistant coach. He also coached atOak Grove High School in San Jose, California, from 1975 to 1980[1] and won one Central Coast Section championship.[2]
In 1981, Holmgren became theoffensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for theSan Francisco State Gators, working forVic Rowen.
From 1982 to 1985, Holmgren was the quarterbacks coach atBrigham Young University underLaVell Edwards. During his four-year tenure at BYU, Holmgren not only helped coach the team's potent offense to a national championship in 1984, but in that period mentored and developed two of BYU's future NFL quarterbacks,Steve Young andRobbie Bosco, and one future NFL head coach,Andy Reid.
Bosco would make it to Green Bay several years before Holmgren, but his eventual appointment as Packers head coach would bring him back into contact with Andy Reid and Steve Young.
Under Holmgren, Bosco led theCougars to a national championship in 1984, finished third inHeisman Trophy balloting and was drafted by theGreen Bay Packers in 1985. Bosco's NFL career was cut short by an arm injury, and he returned to BYU as a quarterbacks coach.
In addition to mentoring quarterbacks at BYU, Holmgren also worked with Reid, at the time a graduate assistant. Reid went on to become an offensive line coach at Holmgren's previous school, San Francisco State, and in 1992 rejoined Holmgren in Green Bay as offensive assistant coach. In 1998, Reid became quarterbacks coach and assistant coach, then in 1999 was named head coach of thePhiladelphia Eagles.
Holmgren began hisNFL coaching career as an assistant coach of theSan Francisco 49ers from 1986 to 1991. He coached the 49ers' quarterbacks from 1986 to 1988 under head coachBill Walsh, working withSteve Young, whom he had coached at BYU, andJoe Montana. WhenGeorge Seifert took over as head coach, Holmgren became the team's offensive coordinator and served from 1989 to 1991. In this stretch, Joe Montana won his two MVP awards and had his best season in 1989. During his tenure with San Francisco, the 49ers posted a 71-–23–1 (74.7%) regular season record to reach the postseason each year except 1991. San Francisco wonSuper Bowl XXIII over theCincinnati Bengals 20–16 andSuper Bowl XXIV over theDenver Broncos 55–10, setting records for most points, most offensive points, and margin of victory in a Super Bowl. As offensive coordinator in 1989, Holmgren's 49er offense was ranked number one in theNFL. His years with the 49ers have led to later success mentoring other young assistants and Holmgren is one of the larger branches of theSid Gillmancoaching tree, from which Walsh and Seifert descended.
Holmgren was head coach of theGreen Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998, which became one of the most successful coaching stints inNFL history. As head coach of the Packers, Holmgren posted a 75–37–0 (67.0%) regular-season record, a 9–5 (64.3%) postseason mark, and twoSuper Bowl appearances, including a 35–21 victory over theNew England Patriots inSuper Bowl XXXI. By winning at least one game in five consecutive postseasons (1993–1997) Holmgren joinedJohn Madden (1973–1977),Andy Reid (2000-2004) (2018-2024),John Harbaugh (2008–2012),Bill Belichick (2003-2007) (2011–2018),Sean McDermott (2020-Present), andPete Carroll (2012–2016) as the only coaches in league history to accomplish the feat. Holmgren's Packers posted an NFL-best 48–16 (75.0%) record, finished first in theNFC Central Division three times and second once, and set a 7–3 mark in the playoffs between 1995 and 1998. By taking the Packers to six consecutive postseasons (1993–1998), Holmgren set a franchise record with a team that had had just two winning seasons in the 19 years before he was hired. Holmgren is well known for molding quarterbackBrett Favre from a wild gun slinger to a three time MVP from 1995 to 1997.
Many of Holmgren's 1992 coaches, includingAndy Reid,Steve Mariucci,Dick Jauron,Ray Rhodes, andJon Gruden, would go on to head coaching careers in the NFL.Marty Mornhinweg, an assistant hired later in Holmgren's tenure at Green Bay, also became an NFL head coach, and was previously an offensive coordinator under Reid with thePhiladelphia Eagles from 2006 to 2012.Doug Pederson, a backup quarterback for Holmgren's Packers from 1996 through 1998, would also serve as an assistant under Reid in both Philadelphia and with theKansas City Chiefs, later winningSuper Bowl LII as the head coach of the Eagles in 2018.[3]
Holmgren resigned from the Green Bay Packers after the1998 season to accept an eight-year, $32 million head coach contract offered by theSeattle Seahawks.[4] Originally, Holmgren was the executive vice president and general manager and head coach of the Seahawks.[5] Following the2002 season, Holmgren was terminated as general manager.[6]
Holmgren took the Seahawks to their first postseason since1988 during his first season with the club in 1999, breaking a 10-year playoff drought. Holmgren posted a 72–56 (56.3%) regular season record and a 4–6 postseason record, including anAFC West Division title (1999), oneNFC Wildcard berth (2003), four consecutiveNFC West Division titles (2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007), anNFC championship (2005), and the Seahawks' first-ever appearance in aSuper Bowl.
Holmgren's (and the Seahawks' until they won the Super Bowl in 2013) best season to date was2005. The team posted the best regular season 13–3 (81.3%) record in franchise history, set a team record 11 consecutive wins, and won their first playoff game since 1984. Holmgren also molded former Green Bay backup quarterbackMatt Hasselbeck into aPro Bowl and Super Bowl quarterback in the 2005 NFL season (much as he did with Favre in the 1990s), and coachedShaun Alexander to the NFL's MVP, a 2005 rushing title, and an NFL record 28 touchdowns in a single season.
With the 2005 NFC Championship win, Holmgren became the fifth member of a small coaching fraternity that has taken two different NFL franchises to the Super Bowl, joiningBill Parcells,Dan Reeves,Don Shula,Dick Vermeil, and laterJohn Fox andAndy Reid. Had the Seahawks wonSuper Bowl XL, he would have become the first head coach in NFL history to win aSuper Bowl with two different franchises, however they fell short, losing 21–10 to thePittsburgh Steelers.
On January 22, 2008, Holmgren announced he would serve out the remaining year of his contract with alame duck year and end his tenure as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks at the end of the2008 NFL season.[7]Jim L. Mora, the defensive backs coach, succeeded Holmgren upon his departure.
On December 19, 2008, Holmgren received theSteve Largent Award, becoming the first coach in Seahawks history to attain the accolade.[8]
On February 1, 2009, Holmgren served as an analyst forNBC's coverage ofSuper Bowl XLIII.Since 2012, He has served as an analyst for Seattle Sports station KJR 950AM and as acolor analyst forWestwood One's radio broadcast ofSuper Bowl LI.
On December 21, 2009, Holmgren accepted the job to be president of theCleveland Browns.[9][10] On January 3, 2011, Holmgren fired Browns coachEric Mangini after a disappointing 5–11 record. On October 16, 2012, Browns ownerJimmy Haslam announced that Holmgren would leave the team at the end of the 2012 season.[11]
In 2015, Holmgren was in consideration for theNew York Jets head coaching job, but removed himself from speculation after entertaining the idea. The Jets would end up hiringTodd Bowles.[12]
In 2020, he was named as a coaching finalist for thePro Football Hall of Fame's "Centennial Slate". He was again up for the class of 2021, but was among the coaches part of the final cut.[13]
He was inducted into theSeahawks Ring of Honor on October 31, 2021.[14]
In 2024, he was named as a coach finalist for thePro Football Hall of Fame.[15]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| GB | 1992 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in NFC Central | – | – | – | – |
| GB | 1993 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3rd in NFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toDallas Cowboys inNFC Divisional Game |
| GB | 1994 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in NFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toDallas Cowboys inNFC Divisional Game |
| GB | 1995 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in NFC Central | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost toDallas Cowboys inNFC Championship Game |
| GB | 1996 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC Central | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XXXI champions |
| GB | 1997 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC Central | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost toDenver Broncos inSuper Bowl XXXII |
| GB | 1998 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in NFC Central | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toSan Francisco 49ers inNFC Wild Card Game |
| GB Total | 75 | 37 | 0 | .670 | 9 | 5 | .643 | |||
| SEA | 1999 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 1st in AFC West | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toMiami Dolphins inAFC Wild Card Game |
| SEA | 2000 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4th in AFC West | – | – | – | – |
| SEA | 2001 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in AFC West | – | – | – | – |
| SEA | 2002 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC West | – | – | – | – |
| SEA | 2003 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 2nd in NFC West | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | Lost toGreen Bay Packers inNFC Wild Card Game |
| SEA | 2004 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 1st in NFC West | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | Lost toSt. Louis Rams inNFC Wild Card Game |
| SEA | 2005 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC West | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | Lost toPittsburgh Steelers inSuper Bowl XL |
| SEA | 2006 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 1st in NFC West | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | Lost toChicago Bears inNFC Divisional Game |
| SEA | 2007 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in NFC West | 1 | 1 | 0.500 | Lost toGreen Bay Packers inNFC Divisional Game |
| SEA | 2008 | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 3rd in NFC West | – | – | – | – |
| SEA Total | 86 | 74 | 0 | .541 | 4 | 6 | .400 | |||
| Total | 161 | 111 | 0 | .592 | 13 | 11 | .542 | |||
Holmgren has worked under two head coaches:
Ten of Holmgren's assistant coaches/executives became head coaches in the NFL or NCAA:
Holmgren and his wife, Kathy, met at age 12 and have been married since June 15, 1971. They wed on his birthday so he would not forget the date. Holmgren first proposed marriage to Kathy when he was age 15, to which she replied: "Nope." They have four daughters — twins Calla and Jenny (born 1973), Emily (1977) and Gretchen (1981). They also have five granddaughters — Emma, Emerson, Mary, Isabelle and Eloise. He also has four grandsons — Luke, Michael, Samuel and Theodore. Holmgren and his wife currently reside inSeattle, Washington.[16]
The Holmgren family is heavily involved in theEvangelical Covenant Church and the denomination'sNorth Park University in Chicago. In 2004, they led the fundraising drive to build the university's Holmgren Athletic Complex.
Holmgren's grandfather, Jens Bugge,[17] who served briefly as a commandant atWest Point and wrote a book on military strategy, also had the distinction of being eulogized byGen.Douglas MacArthur.[18][19] Both of Holmgren's parents were officers in theSalvation Army.
Holmgren is a brother in theSigma Chi fraternity.
Holmgren Way is a street named for the coach and is located inGreen Bay, Wisconsin.
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