Steelers Khan a GM finalist in Seattle
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The Seattle Seahawks have narrowed their search for a general manager to two men, including Steelers executive Omar Khan.
Khan, who has been the team's lead negotiator and salary cap monitor the past nine years, and Floyd Reese are the finalists for the Seattle job. Reese was general manager of the Tennessee Titans from 1994-2006 and now is an adviser for the New England Patriots.
Also, another Steelers defensive coach may be on his way out. Ray Horton, who has coached the secondary the past six years, is a candidate for defensive coordinator at the University of Houston.
Linebackers coach Keith Butler is a candidate for defensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins and defensive assistant Lou Spanos took a job as linebackers coach with the Washington Redskins.
The Steelers officially announced that Sean Kugler will coach their offensive line, replacing Larry Zierlein, who was fired. Kugler and the rest of the staff in Buffalo were fired after the season. He also coached with the Detroit Lions and Boise State.
Mike Tomlin's staff had not changed in his first three seasons as head coach. However, last week Zierlein and special teams coach Bob Ligashesky were fired and quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson retired.
Kugler is the first new coach Tomlin has hired. Wide receivers coach Randy Fichtner may become the quarterbacks coach, and Tomlin then would be looking to hire someone to coach the wide receivers.
NOTE -- A memorial service in the Los Angeles area will be held today for Jerry Shipkey, the first of many Steelers linebackers to make a Pro Bowl. Shipkey, an All-American at UCLA, played for the Steelers from 1948-52. He died Nov. 28 in Dana Point, Calif., at age 84. Shipkey, drafted in the sixth round by the Steelers in 1947, also played fullback for them. "He was a favorite of the Steelers' fans," said Bill Priatko, a former Steeler who kept in touch with Shipkey. "He was a tough bugger. He could hit." Shipkey was one of three linebackers on the Steelers' Legends Team that was chosen in 2007 as part of their 75th Season Celebration.
First Published January 15, 2010 12:00 am
