on the nfl mark craig
Mike Tomlin, Kevin Stefanski and Eric Bieniemy were among the young coaches bustling about Winter Park when Brad Childress was assembling his first Vikings staff back on Jan. 10, 2006.
Tomlin, 33, was at the podium being introduced as defensive coordinator.
"Mike was the first guy I pursued," Childress said last month. "I had to get the right guy to run the defense. Mike certainly had some pop to him, which came through when he interviewed."
The Steelers agreed. A year later, the Super Bowl champs hired Tomlin as Bill Cowher's successor.