The Pittsburgh Steelers are in rare company compared to other organizations, due to their run of Hall of Fame coaches. Since 1969, the Steelers have hired three head coaches. Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher already have been enshrined in the halls of the Pro Football of Fame with Mike Tomlin likely to join them upon his retirement. Though each coach has earned his own rewards and accolades, one is given high praise by another coach who will end up in Canton, Ohio as well.
Gene Puskar / AP
Since his coaching days, former Steelers HC Bill Cowher has spent time as an NFL analyst for CBS.
Bill Belichick, former head coach of the New England Patriots and one of the winningest coaches of all-time, is given high praise as one of the most consistent coach's in all of professional sports. During his 24 years with the team, he amassed 296 wins, six Super Bowls, and created one of longest dynasties seen in modern sports.
Belichick has been given plenty of opportunities to reflect upon his Hall of Fame trajectory and career. In a recent interview with Mike Tannenbaum of The 33rd Team, when asked who he'd love to have coached, the first person he named defensively was Cowher.
"On the defensive side of the ball, I had a ton of respect for Bill Cowher and Marty Schottenheimer. You know, they are kind of from the same tree."
The high praise from Belichick isn't unwarranted. Under the leadership of Cowher, who coached the Steelers from 1992-2006, the Steelers produced eight division titles, two AFC Titles, and brought the first Lombardi Trophy in 20 seasons back to Pittsburgh. Cowher helped to guide not only the Steelers, but the NFL into the modern age.
The two had several notable matchups during their coaching careers, but two memorable wins for Belichick and the Patriots came in the postseason. Belichick defeated Cowher and the Steelers in both 2001 and 2004, going on to win the Lombardi Trophy in 2004.
Cowher had several staples during his tenure with the Steelers, but his biggest impact came on defense. Not only did he have the background of a defensive mindset due to his time as a linebacker, but from the Hall of Fame coach he learned from.
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images
Former then-San Diego Chargers head coach, Marty Schottenheimer looks on from the sideline on Aug. 14, 2004, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
Coach Marty Schottenheimer played a large part in the formation of Cowher. He gave Cowher his start in coaching in 1985 during his tenure with the Cleveland Browns, where he was hired as a special teams and secondary coach. After Schottenheimer moved to Kansas City, Cowher followed taking the defensive coordinator job for the Chiefs from 1989 to 1992 before heading to Pittsburgh.
Cowher's Impact On The Steelers And Beyond
Between Cowher, Noll, and Tomlin, the three have accumulated six Lombardi Trophies and may have reshaped the Steelers into the team they are now. Without them, who knows what legacy and tradition surrounds the Steelers today. Cowher specifically helped set up both Tomlin and the Steelers through the 2000s. Some of the best players in the team's history were drafted by Cowher, including Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Ben Roethlisberger, and Troy Polamalu.
Robin Rombach / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ben Roethlisberger and Santonio Holmes celebrate winning Super Bowl XLIII.
Cowher's impact goes beyond the Steelers, thanks to his diverse coaching tree. Notable coaches ranging from Bruce Arians to Dick LeBeau spent time at the head coaching position, and even Mike Vrabel, who played for Cowher, has spent time in coaching.
Cowher's career is just as impressive as his coaching tree. Cowher currently holds a franchise record for regular season wins at 15. His career record of 161-99-1 and .623 winning percentage as a coach places him behind only Tomlin in Steelers history. He was named NFL Coach of the Year twice in both 1992 and 2004. Cowher won the Super Bowl in 2006 defeating the Seattle Seahawks 21-10. He would retire following the win and join CBS Sports as an analyst where he remains today.
#SteelerNation
