Mike Holmgren

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Holmgren’s journey began in San Francisco, where he served as quarterbacks coach under Bill Walsh from 1986 to 1988 before becoming offensive coordinator for head coach George Seifert. During this era, he helped Joe Montana win his two MVP awards in 1989 and 1990 while the 49ers secured Super Bowl XXIII over the Cincinnati Bengals with a 20–16 victory, followed by a dominant 55–10 win against Denver in Super Bowl XXIV. His transition to head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998 marked a turning point for the franchise; he posted a 75–37–0 regular-season record and led them to their 12th league championship in Super Bowl XXXI, a 35–21 win over the New England Patriots. Holmgren molded Brett Favre into a three-time MVP from 1995 to 1997, guiding the Packers to six consecutive postseasons (1993–1998). Later, as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks from 1999 to 2008, he secured five division titles and the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XL, where they lost 21–10 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In total, his head coaching record includes eight division titles, twelve playoff appearances, three NFC Championships, and one Super Bowl win.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Mike Holmgren is defined by specific turning points across three distinct cities rather than a single franchise tenure. His time in San Francisco saw him develop Steve Young and Joe Montana, setting the stage for two Super Bowl victories. Moving to Green Bay in 1992, he inherited a struggling team that had only two winning seasons in the previous 19 years; by 1998, he had transformed them into consistent winners who never posted a losing season under his leadership. His departure after the 1998 season led him to Seattle on an eight-year, $32 million contract, where he served as both head coach and general manager until 2002. In 2005, Holmgren guided the Seahawks to their best regular season in franchise history (13–3) and a trip to Super Bowl XL. His career concluded with a challenging stint as team president of the Cleveland Browns from 2010 to 2012, where the team compiled a 14–34 record before his release in November 2012. Throughout these roles, he mentored future head coaches like Andy Reid and Doug Pederson.

Reader's Guide

For those studying Holmgren’s impact, note that his coaching tree is extensive, producing leaders like Steve Mariucci, Dick Jauron, Ray Rhodes, Jon Gruden, and Andy Reid. His specific achievements include leading the Packers to a 48–16 record over four years (1995–1998) and setting an NFL record for offensive points in Super Bowl XXIV. He was also unique in taking two different franchises (Green Bay and Seattle) to the Super Bowl. Post-coaching, he remained active as a weekday guest on Seattle radio station Sports Radio KJR during the football season and, as of 2021, worked as a guest analyst for Westwood One's Super Bowl broadcasts. His playing career included time at Abraham Lincoln High School and USC, where he was part of the 1967 national championship team before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1970.

Did You Know?

• Holmgren was selected in the eighth round (201st overall) of the 1970 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.
• He is one of only a few coaches to take two different franchises to the Super Bowl, joining Bill Parcells and Dan Reeves.
• Joe Montana won his two MVP awards under Holmgren's direction in 1989 and 1990 while with the 49ers.
• As offensive coordinator for the 49ers in 1989, Holmgren led an offense ranked number one in the NFL.
• Holmgren was released by the Cleveland Browns in November 2012 after a tenure where the team went 14–34.