View source for Bill Cowher

{{Short description|American football player, coach, and analyst (born 1957)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Bill Cowher
| image          = NFL Coaches visit U.S. service members in Iraq DVIDS184980 (cropped).jpg
| caption        = Cowher in 2009
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1957|5|8|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Crafton, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 3
| weight_lbs     = 225
| death_date     = 
| number         = 53, 57
| position       = [[Linebacker]]
| high_school    = [[Carlynton School District|Carlynton]]<br />([[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]])
| college        = [[NC State Wolfpack football|NC State]]
| undraftedyear  = 1979
| pastteams      =
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1979}})
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1980}}–{{NFL Year|1982}})
* Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1983}}–{{NFL Year|1984}})
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|1985}}–{{NFL Year|1986}})<br />Special teams coach
* Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1987}}–{{NFL Year|1988}})<br />Defensive backs coach
* [[Kansas City Chiefs]] ({{NFL Year|1989}}–{{NFL Year|1991}})<br />Defensive coordinator
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1992}}–{{NFL Year|2006}})<br />Head coach
| highlights     =
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XL|XL]])
* [[NFL Coach of the Year Award#AP NFL Coach of the Year|AP NFL Coach of the Year]] (1992)
* 2× [[NFL Coach of the Year Award#Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year|Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year]] (1992, 2004)
* Best Coach/Manager [[ESPY Award]] (2006)
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers#Hall of Honor|Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor]]
* [[Pittsburgh Pro Football Hall of Fame]]
| statlabel1     = Games played
| statvalue1     = 45
| statlabel2     = Games started
| statvalue2     = 4
| statlabel3     = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3     = 1
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|149|90|1|record=y}}
| playoff_record = {{Winning percentage|12|9|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|161|99|1|record=y}}
| pfrcoach       = CowhBi0
| HOF            = bill-cowher 
}}
'''William Laird Cowher''' ({{IPAc-en|'|k|aʊ|.|ər}}; born May 8, 1957) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[linebacker]] and coach who served as the [[head coach]] for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 15 seasons. He began his coaching career as an assistant under [[Marty Schottenheimer]] for the [[Cleveland Browns]] and [[Kansas City Chiefs]], serving as the latter's defensive coordinator from 1989 to 1991. In 1992, Cowher was named head coach of the Steelers, a position he held until his retirement following the 2006 season. After retiring, he joined ''[[The NFL Today]]'' as a studio analyst.

Under Cowher, Pittsburgh won eight division titles, two [[AFC Championship Game]]s, and [[Super Bowl XL]]. Cowher's Super Bowl victory marked the first championship title for the franchise in over two decades and the first not to be won by [[Chuck Noll]], his predecessor. The Steelers appeared in the postseason 10 times with Cowher, including six consecutive appearances from his 1992 hiring to 1997, which made him the second NFL head coach to reach the playoffs during each of his first six seasons after [[Paul Brown]]. He was inducted to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 2020.

==Early life and college career==
Cowher was born and raised in [[Crafton, Pennsylvania]], a suburb of [[Pittsburgh]]. Growing up, he lived only about {{convert|15|miles}} from [[Three Rivers Stadium]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodgers |first=Tarrian |date=July 14, 2021 |title=Bill Cowher: The Hall of Fame ScowlUp to date sports, film and entertainment news |url=https://www.newsstitchedmedia.com/post/bill-cowher-the-hall-of-fame-scowl |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=News Stitched Media |language=en}}</ref> He is the son of the late Laird and Dorothy Cowher. His father attended [[Duquesne University]] in Pittsburgh's [[Bluff (Pittsburgh)|Bluff]] neighborhood<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://triblive.com/sports/steelers/bill-cowher-speaks-to-duquesne-graduates-accepts-honorary-doctorate/|title=Bill Cowher talks leadership, Steelers draft, Pickett at Duquesne graduation as he receives honorary degree|first=Paul|last=Guggenheimer|date=May 5, 2023|website=TribLIVE.com}}</ref> where he was briefly a classmate with eventual Steelers owner [[Dan Rooney]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNOkc67Jqlg |title=Big Ben & Coach Cowher talk 2004 draft, SB XL, getting Jerome Bettis to return and more! Ep. 27 |date=May 8, 2023 |last=Channel Seven |access-date=November 8, 2024 |via=YouTube}}</ref> He has two brothers; Dale and Doug.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/laird-cowher-obituary?id=22576064|title=LAIRD COWHER Obituary (2010) - Legacy Remembers|website=Legacy.com}}</ref> The Cowher family resided on Hawthorne Avenue, in Crafton, while Cowher was growing up.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/23/sports/football/cowher-feels-a-void-in-pittsburgh.html|title=Cowher Feels a Void in Pittsburgh|first=Lee|last=Jenkins|work=The New York Times |date=January 23, 2005|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>
[[File:Cowher1975.jpg|thumb|left|190px|Cowher as a high school student in 1975]]

While attending [[Carlynton School District|Carlynton High School]], Cowher excelled in football, basketball, and track. In his senior year, he was named "Most Athletic" and captain of the Cougars football team.<ref name="p454">{{cite web |last=Keane |first=Jennifer E. |date=2007 |title=Bill Cowher |url=https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/bios/cowher__bill |website=www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu |access-date=December 14, 2025}}</ref> Despite his efforts on the field, Cowher was not offered many scholarships as a football player due to being deemed "undersized" for the linebacker position.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/college/acc/2023/09/29/nc-state-football-bill-cowher-nfl-pittsburgh-steelers/71008065007/|title=How NC State football 'forged' Hall of Fame NFL coach Bill Cowher|first=Rodd|last=Baxley|date=September 29, 2023|website=The Fayetteville Observer}}</ref>

When Cowher graduated in 1975, he committed to [[North Carolina State University]], one of the few schools that offered him a scholarship. During his time at NC State, he was a three-year starting linebacker for the Wolfpack. He currently owns the school record for most tackles in a single season with 195.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peeler |first=Tim |date=September 27, 2023 |title=Athletics To Honor 2 NC State Legends |url=https://news.ncsu.edu/2023/09/athletics-to-honor-2-nc-state-legends/ |access-date=June 1, 2025 |website=NC State News}}</ref> During his senior season, he was voted to be a team captain and was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). Cowher graduated from NC State in 1979, receiving a [[bachelor's degree]] in education while he was also preparing for the 1979 NFL Draft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/bios/Cowher__Bill|title=Pennsylvania Center for the Book|website=pabook.libraries.psu.edu}}</ref>

Cowher's college performance was motivated by making games “personal”. He would often re-read his rejection letters from schools he would play against. His strategy of playing angry and internalizing personal connections against his opponents would later influence his aggressive coaching style. Cowher once compared himself to [[Freddy Krueger]], stating he wanted to be his opponents' “worst nightmare”.<ref>{{cite video |title=Big Ben & Coach Cowher talk 2004 draft, SB XL, getting Jerome Bettis to return and more! Ep. 27 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNOkc67Jqlg |author=Channel Seven |date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=October 30, 2024 |time=20:56}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Cowher went undrafted in the [[1979 NFL draft]].

He began his NFL career as a linebacker with the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] in 1979, but signed with the [[Cleveland Browns]] the following year. Cowher played three seasons from 1980 to 1982 in Cleveland, making him a member of the [[Kardiac Kids]], before being traded back to the Eagles, where he played two more years from 1983 to 1984. His tenure in Philadelphia included tackling a young [[Jeff Fisher]] (who later became the head coach of the [[Tennessee Titans]] and [[Los Angeles Rams|St. Louis Rams]]) when playing against the [[Chicago Bears]], causing Fisher to break his leg.<ref>{{cite magazine | first=Michael | last=Silver | title=Making A Statement | date=October 7, 1996 | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008844/index.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103120742/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1008844/index.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=November 3, 2012 | magazine=Sports Illustrated | access-date=January 5, 2013}}</ref> The two would later be rival head coaches and friends in the [[AFC Central]] division, and Fisher has credited his injury at the hands of Cowher with having the [[unintended consequence]] of propelling him into coaching.

Cowher primarily played [[special teams]] during his playing career; subsequently, he placed emphasis on special teams during his coaching career. Cowher credits being a "[[bubble player]]" during his playing career with influencing his coaching career, feeling that such players work the hardest for a roster spot (and sometimes still get cut, hence the term "bubble player"), and thus make better head coaches than those with successful playing careers.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}

==Coaching career==
===Assistant jobs===
Cowher began his coaching career in 1985 at age 28 under [[Marty Schottenheimer]] with the [[Cleveland Browns]]. Cowher, who had played under Schottenheimer in Cleveland when Schottenheimer was the team's defensive coordinator, stated that he took a coaching position despite taking a significant pay cut from what he would have made as a player with the Eagles in 1985 because he saw his fortunes as a player limited and saw more of a future as a coach.<ref name="A Football Life">{{Cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=XKIKzV0Cy2w | title=- YouTube | website=[[YouTube]] }}{{dead link|date=January 2025}}</ref>

He was the Browns' special teams coach in 1985–86 and secondary coach in 1987–88, during which he formed a bond with [[New York Giants]] [[defensive coordinator]] [[Bill Belichick]] and helped Belichick learn how to coach defensive backs while teaching Cowher how to coach linebackers.<ref name="A Football Life"/> Belichick was impressed enough with Cowher that he and Giants head coach [[Bill Parcells]] offered to make Cowher the Giants defensive backs coach following Schottenheimer's sudden departure from Cleveland in 1988, but Cowher opted to remain loyal to Schottenheimer.<ref name=Belichick>{{cite web |url=https://steelersdepot.com/2023/10/bill-cowher-almost-became-the-cleveland-browns-head-coach-in-1991/ |title=Bill Cowher Almost Became the Cleveland Browns Head Coach in 1991 |website=SteelersDepot.com |last=Koroza |first=Adam |date=October 26, 2023 |access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref>

Following Schottenheimer to the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] in 1989, Cowher was named defensive coordinator, becoming close with legendary Chiefs linebacker [[Derrick Thomas]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wtae.com/article/bill-cowher-tours-pro-football-hall-of-fame-ahead-of-his-induction/31106267 |title=Bill Cowher tours Pro Football Hall of Fame ahead of his induction |work=[[WTAE-TV|WTAE]] |date=February 25, 2020 |access-date=January 23, 2025}}</ref> He interviewed with the Browns for their head coaching vacancy in 1991 before losing out to close friend Belichick; it is believed that Cowher's young age at the time played a factor in losing out to Belichick.<ref name=Belichick /> He was a finalist for the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] head coaching position in 1991 following the dismissal of [[Sam Wyche]], but was passed over in favor of [[Dave Shula]].

===Pittsburgh Steelers===
[[File:Bill Cowher September 1996.jpg|thumb|Cowher in 1996]]
He became the 15th head coach in Steelers history when he succeeded [[Chuck Noll]] on January 21, 1992 – but only the team's second head coach since the NFL merger in 1970, beating out fellow Pittsburgh native and [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pitt]] alumnus (and eventual Pitt head coach) [[Dave Wannstedt]] (Wannstedt instead became the coach of the Chicago Bears the following season).<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.si.com/vault/1992/01/13/125777/thanks-but-no-thanks-as-others-scrambled-for-coaching-jobs-bill-parcells-rejected-two-whopping-offers# | title=Thanks, But No Thanks: As others scrambled for coaching jobs, Bill Parcells rejected two whopping offers | first=Peter | last=King | date=January 13, 1992 | magazine=Sports Illustrated | access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref> Cowher continued a trend for the Steelers hiring coaches in their 30s that dates back to [[Joe Bach]] who began coaching the Steelers in 1935 when they were still named the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Under Cowher, the Steelers showed an immediate improvement from the disappointing 7–9 season the year before, going 11–5 and earning home-field advantage in the AFC after the Steelers had missed the playoffs six times out of the previous seven years. His first season as a head coach came to an end in the AFC Divisional round on January 9, 1993, against the [[Buffalo Bills]] in which the Steelers would lose 24–3.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199301090pit.htm|title=Divisional Round - Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 9th, 1993|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>
[[Image:Bill Cowher challenge.jpg|250x250px|left|thumb|Cowher challenges a play]]

The following season ended with a record of 9–7 for the Steelers. Under Cowher, the team scored a total of 308 points and allowed just 281 points against them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1993.htm|title=1993 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Though the Steelers fell 27–24 in the AFC Wildcard round to the [[Kansas City Chiefs]], it became the first time in a decade the Steelers had back-to-back playoff appearances.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/playoffs.htm|title=Pittsburgh Steelers Playoff History|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

In the 1995 regular season, Cowher got the team to record 11 wins and five losses, once again sending them to the playoffs and earned them a first round bye.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1995.htm|title=1995 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The Steelers were able to defeat the [[Buffalo Bills]], who were coming off of four straight Super Bowl appearances, 40–24 and recorded a 20–16 victory against the [[Indianapolis Colts]]. Their win against the Colts made the Steelers AFC Champions for the first time since the [[1979 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1979 season]]. At age 38, he became the youngest coach to lead his team to a [[Super Bowl]], which the Steelers lost 27–17 to the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. Cowher is only the second coach in NFL history to lead his team to the playoffs in each of his first six seasons as head coach, joining [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] member Paul Brown.

In [[1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1998]], Cowher led the team to their first losing season of his tenure, breaking a six-year streak of playoff teams. With quarterback [[Kordell Stewart]] at the helm, Cowher and the team finished with a record of 7-9 and placing third in the [[AFC Central]].<ref name="b692">{{cite web | title=1998 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=September 6, 1998 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1998.htm | access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref> [[1999 Pittsburgh Steelers season|The following season]], Pittsburgh would see a second consecutive losing season for the first time since [[List of Pittsburgh Steelers seasons|the 1985 and 1986 seasons]]. Despite a 4–3 start to the season heading into the [[bye (sports)|bye week]], the Steelers would go 2–7 on the remainder of the season to finish with a record of 6–10.<ref name="u185">{{cite web | title=1999 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=September 12, 1999 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1999.htm | access-date=November 20, 2024}}</ref>
[[File:Casey Hampton and Bill Cowher pregame 2006-11-26 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Cowher prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2006]]

During the late 90's and early 2000's, Cowher became known for drafting lineman with first round picks, which drew criticism from [[Steeler Nation|Steelers fans]]. During his tenure, the team had mixed results with this strategy, drafting future Hall of Famer [[Alan Faneca]] and future [[Pro Bowl]]ers [[Leon Searcy]] & [[Casey Hampton]] but also drafting [[Jamain Stephens]] (who would go on to be one of the team's biggest first-round busts) and [[Kendall Simmons]] (a solid starter but plagued by injuries and a sudden diagnosis of [[type 1 diabetes]]), with Stephens infamously being cut after failing the [[40-yard dash]] on the first day of training camp.<ref name="x899">{{cite web | title=A History of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL Draft, Part 6: Offensive Linemen | website=Behind the Steel Curtain | date=April 22, 2022 | url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2022/4/22/23027199/a-history-of-the-pittsburgh-steelers-and-the-nfl-draft-part-6-offensive-linemen-decastro-pouncey | access-date=November 18, 2024}}</ref> Between 1992 and 2002, the Steelers drafted five linemen on both the defensive and offensive sides in the first round, making up nearly half of Cowher's [[List of Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft picks|first round picks]] in the first decade of his tenure. Defendants of this strategy pointed out that of the five lineman drafted, only Stephens was a bonafide bust and of the skill position players the Steelers did draft with their first round picks ([[Deon Figures]], [[Charles Johnson (wide receiver, born 1972)|Charles Johnson]], [[Mark Bruener]], [[Chad Scott]], [[Troy Edwards]], and [[Plaxico Burress]]), with the exception of Bruener--who despite being a [[tight end]] was more of a blocking tight end and a [[de facto]] sixth offensive lineman when he played--and to a lesser extent Scott and Burress largely didn't live up to expectations, though only Edwards would be a bust. (Notably, the Steelers drafted Edwards and Burress, both [[wide receiver]]s, despite having third-round pick [[Hines Ward]] already on their roster to replace Johnson and [[Yancey Thigpen]] following their departures in free agency; Ward would outright supplant Edwards on the depth chart by 2000.) Cowher's draft picks began to focus on skill positions in 2003 when cornerstone defensive back [[Troy Polamalu]] was taken with the 16th overall pick.

The 2003 season would prove challenging for Cowher and the Steelers when the team was only able to win six of their 16 regular season games, missing the playoffs. Due to their poor record, it allowed for Cowher's team to draft [[Ben Roethlisberger]] with the 11th overall pick in the [[2004 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2003.htm|title=2003 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Cowher did not initially want to select Roethlisberger in the first round as he was "comfortable" with starter [[Tommy Maddox]] and backup [[Charlie Batch]].<ref name="k533">{{cite web | title=Big Ben & Coach Cowher talk 2004 draft, SB XL, getting Jerome Bettis to return and more! Ep. 27 | website=YouTube | date=March 6, 2024 | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNOkc67Jqlg | access-date=November 18, 2024}}</ref> His original decision was to draft [[Shawn Andrews (American football)|Shawn Andrews]], an offensive tackle from the [[University of Arkansas]]. Before the pick could be sent in during the draft, Steelers owner [[Dan Rooney]] overrode the decision and took Roethlisberger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Scott |date=April 24, 2014 |title=Big Ben pick returned Steelers to glory |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/6043/big-ben-pick-returned-steelers-to-glory |access-date=May 2, 2022 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=October 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026184201/https://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/6043/big-ben-pick-returned-steelers-to-glory |url-status=live}}</ref>

Cowher and the team would rebound from their previous season with a record of 15–1, earning a first round bye in the playoffs yet again. The Steelers would make another AFC Championship appearance, losing 41–27 to eventual Super Bowl champions the [[New England Patriots]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/2004.htm|title=2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref>

[[File:Bill Cowher.jpg|thumb|left|Cowher with the Steelers at the [[White House]] following their Super Bowl XL victory]]
In 2005, the Steelers were able to clinch a spot in the playoffs with an 11–5 record as the sixth seeded team in the AFC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/playoffs.htm|title=2005 NFL Playoff Standings|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> The Steelers led an upset playoff run, including a 21–18 victory over the [[Indianapolis Colts]], the top seeded team in the AFC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/2005.htm|title=2005 Indianapolis Colts Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> Cowher would win his second AFC Championship on January 22, 2006, when the Steelers defeated the [[Denver Broncos]] 34–17.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601220den.htm|title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos - January 22nd, 2006|website=[[Pro Football Reference]]}}</ref> On February 5, 2006, Cowher's Pittsburgh Steelers won [[Super Bowl XL]] by defeating the [[Seattle Seahawks]] 21–10, giving Cowher his first [[Super Bowl ring]] and making the Steelers the first sixth seed to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. Including the Super Bowl, Cowher's teams over the years had compiled a record of 108–1–1 in games in which they built a lead of at least 11 points.<ref name="Collier">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=brINAAAAIBAJ&dq=ike-taylor&pg=4176%2C4057270|title=Taylor's interception clips Seahawk's wings|last=Collier|first=Gene|date=February 6, 2006|newspaper=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|access-date=March 29, 2010}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On January 5, 2007, Cowher resigned after 15 years of being the Steelers head coach. Cowher's record as a head coach was 161–99–1, including the playoffs. He was succeeded by [[Mike Tomlin]]. In Cowher's 15 seasons, the Steelers captured eight division titles, earned 10 postseason playoff berths (including six straight in his first six seasons), played in 21 playoff games, advanced to six [[American Football Conference|AFC]] Championship games and made two Super Bowl appearances. He is one of only six coaches in NFL history to claim at least seven division titles. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, the Steelers had the best record of any team in the NFL since Cowher was hired as head coach.

On January 11, 2020, Cowher was told live on a CBS pregame show that he was being inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] as part of its centennial class by its president [[C. David Baker|David Baker]].<ref>''The NFL Today''. CBS. January 11, 2020.</ref>

====Coaching philosophy and legacy====
Much like his mentor Marty Schottenheimer, Cowher believed in a strong defense with an emphasis on special teams performance, complimented by a strong running game on offense. Unlike the conservative Schottenheimer, however, Cowher was known to take more risks, including going for it on fourth down, such as his first game as a head coach against the [[Houston Oilers]] when he had punter [[Mark Royals]] throw a fake punt to [[Warren Williams (American football)|Warren Williams]] and putting the Steelers near the goal line.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2020 |title=Exclusive with Former Steelers Punter Mark Royals, 1992-1994 – Welcome to Steelers Takeaways! |url=https://steelerstakeaways.com/exclusive-with-former-steelers-punter-mark-royals-1992-1994/ |access-date=November 8, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Unlike the stoic Noll, Cowher was known to be more fiery and emotional, specifically with his jaw line when he was angry and being known as "the Chin".<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiPerna |first=Jody |year=2006 |title=Bill Cowher Keeps His Chin Up |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/columns/bill-cowher-keeps-his-chin-up-1334120 |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=Pittsburgh City Paper |language=en}}</ref> This was exemplified in a 1995 game against the [[Minnesota Vikings]] when the referees mistakenly [[Penalty (gridiron football)|penalized]] the Steelers for 12 men on the field following a missed field goal. The Vikings made the subsequent rekick despite Cowher's protests that they had the regulated 11 players on the field, and stuffed an "all-22" photo as proof into referee [[Gordon McCarter]]'s pocket, leading to a $7,500 fine by the NFL for Cowher putting his hands on an official.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carney |first=Josh |date=May 9, 2023 |title='A Great Teaching Moment For Me': Bill Cowher Recalls Infamous Polaroid Incident With Official |url=https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/a-great-teaching-moment-for-me-bill-cowher-recalls-infamous-polaroid-incident-with-official/ |access-date=November 8, 2024 |website=Steelers Depot |language=en-US}}</ref> Cowher is also known for being a vocal supporter of the coaching profession in general and was upset that the [[Indianapolis Colts]] hired former center [[Jeff Saturday]] as interim head coach in 2022 despite having no coaching experience above the [[High school football|high school]] level and the team having several assistants already on the staff with previous head coaching experience.<ref name="McAfee">{{Cite web |last=Lemoncelli |first=Jenna |date=November 16, 2022 |title=Pat McAfee calls out Bill Cowher over Colts, Jeff Saturday remarks |url=https://nypost.com/2022/11/16/pat-mcafee-calls-out-bill-cowher-over-colts-jeff-saturday-remarks/ |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=NYPost.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==After coaching==
[[File:Dan Marino, Bill Cowher en el CBS Pre-game Show (4406601512).jpg|250x250px|thumb|[[Dan Marino]] and Cowher during a CBS Pre-game Show in 2010]]
On February 15, 2007, he signed on to ''[[The NFL Today]]'' on [[CBS]] as a studio analyst, joining [[Dan Marino]], [[Shannon Sharpe]], and [[Boomer Esiason]]. Cowher also serves as a host of the NFL's CBS Halftime Report. In November 2024, Cowher confirmed he will be re-signing with CBS in 2025, keeping him as a host for 19 years.<ref name="p149">{{cite web | last=Marczi | first=Matthew | title=Bill Cowher Confirms He Will Remain On 'The NFL Today' Show Through 2025 | website=Steelers Depot | date=November 18, 2024| url=https://steelersdepot.com/2024/11/bill-cowher-confirms-he-will-remain-on-the-nfl-today-show-through-2025/ | access-date=November 19, 2024}}</ref>

In 2007, Cowher appeared in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] reality television series ''[[Fast Cars and Superstars: The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race]]'', featuring a dozen celebrities in a stock car racing competition. Cowher matched up against [[Gabrielle Reece]] and [[William Shatner]].

On March 4, 2008, Cowher responded to rumors concerning his coaching future by stating, "I'm not going anywhere."<ref name='move'>{{cite news | first=Ed | last=Bouchette | title=Cowhers will move, but not to Penn State | date=March 5, 2008 | url =http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08065/862482-66.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | access-date = March 7, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308181250/http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08065/862482-66.stm| archive-date= March 8, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> The rumors started after the Cowhers placed their [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]], North Carolina home on the market, but their intention was to build a new house two miles away.

Putting an end to numerous unfounded rumors of his return to coaching in the NFL in 2009, Cowher stated on ''[[The NFL Today]]'' that he did not plan to coach again in the immediate future.<ref name="TSN">{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=261929&lid=sublink05&lpos=headlines_main|title=Cowher Doesn't Plan on Coaching in 2009|date=January 4, 2009|publisher=TSN|access-date=January 4, 2009}}</ref>

In July 2010, Cowher was the keynote speaker for National Agents Alliance at their Leadership Conference. He talked about work ethic, [[leadership]] and how that transfers into the work force. He said it's not about what you accomplish, it's about who you touch along the way.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlfVx7A1i3w | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211104/TlfVx7A1i3w| archive-date=November 4, 2021 | url-status=live| title=Bill Cowher talks to National Agents Alliance Agents about opportunity and hard work| website=[[YouTube]]| date=August 23, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Cowher had a part in the movie ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012), which was filmed at [[Heinz Field]], the home of the Steelers, on Pittsburgh's North Side. He played the head coach of the Gotham Rogues.<ref>{{cite web |author=Aaron on |url=http://my.spill.com/profiles/blog/show?id=947994:BlogPost:3851482 |title=Aaron's Experience As An Extra On 'The Dark Knight Rises' *SPOILERS INCLUDED* - The Spill Movie Community |publisher=My.spill.com |date=August 7, 2011 |access-date=August 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330124359/http://my.spill.com/profiles/blog/show?id=947994:BlogPost:3851482 |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In May 2023, Cowher reunited with [[Ben Roethlisberger]] on Roethlisberger's podcast ''Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger''.<ref name="i992">{{cite web | last=Marczi | first=Matthew | title='You Gotta Run The Football': Bill Cowher Fondly Recalls Dan Rooney's Unsolicited Coaching Advice | website=Steelers Depot | date=May 11, 2023 | url=https://steelersdepot.com/2023/05/you-gotta-run-the-football-bill-cowher-fondly-recalls-dan-rooneys-unsolicited-coaching-advice/ | access-date=November 19, 2024}}</ref>

On August 11, 2023, NC State announced that Cowher would be inducted into its Ring of Honor with the ceremony taking place before the Wolfpack's September 29 game versus [[Louisville Cardinals football|Louisville]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bill Cowher to be Inducted Into the NC State Ring of Honor |url=https://gopack.com/news/2023/8/11/football-bill-cowher-to-be-inducted-into-the-nc-state-ring-of-honor |access-date=2023-08-11 |website=NC State University Athletics |language=en}}</ref>

==Coaching tree==
[[File:Super Bowl XL ring (1).jpg|thumb|The Steeler' Super Bowl XL ring, showing all five Lombardi trophies won by the Steelers up to that point]]
Assistant coaches under Cowher that became head coaches in the NFL or NCAA:
* [[Dom Capers]]: [[Carolina Panthers]] (1995–1998), [[Houston Texans]] (2002–2005)
* [[Chan Gailey]]: [[Dallas Cowboys]] (1998–1999), [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]] (2002–2007), [[Buffalo Bills]] (2010–2012)
* [[Jim Haslett]]: [[New Orleans Saints]] (2000–2005), [[St. Louis Rams]] (2008)
* [[Dick LeBeau]]: [[Cincinnati Bengals]] (2000–2002)
* [[Marvin Lewis]]: Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2018)
* [[Mike Mularkey]]: Buffalo Bills (2004–2005), [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] (2012), [[Tennessee Titans]] (2015–2017)
* [[Ken Whisenhunt]]: Arizona Cardinals (2007–2012), Tennessee Titans (2014–2015)
* [[Bruce Arians]]: [[Indianapolis Colts]] (2012, interim), [[Arizona Cardinals]] (2013–2017), [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] (2019–2021)
* [[David Culley]]: Houston Texans (2021)

Players under Cowher that became head coaches in the NFL:
*[[Mike Vrabel]]: [[Tennessee Titans]] (2018–2023), [[New England Patriots]] (2025–)

== Personal life ==
[[File:Billcowhershouse.JPG|left|thumb|200px|Cowher's [[North Ridge Country Club]] home in Raleigh, North Carolina.]]

Cowher's late wife, [[Kaye Young|Kaye (née Young)]], also a [[North Carolina State University]] graduate, played professional basketball for the [[New York Stars (WBL)|New York Stars]] of the (now defunct) [[Women's Professional Basketball League]] with her twin sister, Faye. Kaye was featured in the book ''Mad Seasons: The Story of the First Women's Professional Basketball League, 1978–1981'', by Karra Porter ([[University of Nebraska Press]], 2006). Kaye Cowher died of [[skin neoplasm|skin cancer]] at age 54 on July 23, 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wralsportsfan.com/nfl/story/8028349/ | title=Kaye Cowher, wife of former Steelers coach, dies at age 54 | date=July 24, 2010 | agency=Associated Press | website=WRALsportsfan.com | access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref> The couple had three daughters: Meagan, Lauren, and Lindsay. Meagan and Lauren played basketball at [[Princeton University]]. Lindsay played basketball at [[Wofford College]] before transferring to [[Elon University]]. In 2007, the Cowher family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, from the Pittsburgh suburb of [[Fox Chapel]]. Meagan married former [[NHL]] forward [[Kevin Westgarth]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/07/13/bill-cowher%E2%80%99s-daughter-to-wed-nhl-tough-guy |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716203958/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/07/13/bill-cowher%E2%80%99s-daughter-to-wed-nhl-tough-guy |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2012 |title=Bill Cowher's daughter to wed NHL enforcer |publisher=Sports.nationalpost.com |date=July 13, 2011 |access-date=August 3, 2012 }}</ref> Lindsay married former [[NBA]] forward [[Ryan Kelly (basketball)|Ryan Kelly]] of the [[Atlanta Hawks]] on August 2, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wtae.com/sports/steelers/lindsay-cowher-gets-engaged-to-ryan-kelly-from-duke/-/11793880/20290936/-/jqasvo/-/index.html|title=Lindsay Cowher gets engaged to Ryan Kelly from Duke|publisher=WTAE.com|date=May 24, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101100619/http://www.wtae.com/sports/steelers/lindsay-cowher-gets-engaged-to-ryan-kelly-from-duke/-/11793880/20290936/-/jqasvo/-/index.html|archive-date=January 1, 2014}}</ref>

Cowher married Veronica Stigeler in 2014.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/sports/features/bill-cowhers-new-normal-20151105 | title=Bill Cowher's New Normal | first=Brendan | last=Prunty | date=November 5, 2015 | magazine=Rolling Stone | access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref> In 2018, Cowher put his Raleigh house in [[North Ridge Country Club]] up for sale after announcing he would be moving to New York full-time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article213768244.html | title=NCSU grad, former Steelers coach Bill Cowher selling Raleigh house for $2 million | first=Abbie | last=Bennett | work=[[The News & Observer]] | location=[[Raleigh, North Carolina]] | date=June 24, 2018 | access-date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>

Cowher co-authored an autobiography, ''Heart and Steel'', in 2021.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Bill|last1=Cowher|first2=Michael|last2=Holley|title=Heart and Steel|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=9781982175818|year=2021}}</ref>

==Endorsements==
Cowher was on the cover of [[EA Sports]]' 2006 video game ''[[NFL Head Coach]]''. He appears in TV advertising for [[Time Warner Cable]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Tara DeGeorges|url=http://www.twcableuntangled.com/2013/04/enjoy-sports-better-bill-cowher-is-twcs-head-coach/ |title=Enjoy Sports Better: Bill Cowher is TWC's Head Coach |publisher=www.twcableuntangled.com |date=April 12, 2013 |access-date=September 17, 2014}}</ref> In the video game [[Madden NFL 19]], he voiced himself in the mini-game Longshot 2: Homecoming. In the mini-game, he makes his return to coaching as the head coach of the [[Houston Texans]].

==Head coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[1992 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1992 NFL season|1992]]
||11||5||0||.688||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[1992 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] in [[1992–93 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]]'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[1993 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1993 NFL season|1993]]
||9||7||0||.563||'''2nd in AFC Central'''|| 0 || 1 || .000 || <Small>'''Lost to [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] in [[1993–94 NFL playoffs|AFC Wild Card Game]]'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[1994 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1994 NFL season|1994]]
||12||4||0||.750||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[1994 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] in [[1994–95 NFL playoffs|AFC Championship Game]]'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1995 NFL season|1995]]
||11||5||0||.688||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 2 || 1 || .667 || <Small>'''Lost to [[1995 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in [[Super Bowl XXX]]'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1996 NFL season|1996]]
||10||6||0||.625||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[1996 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in [[1996–97 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]]'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[1997 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1997 NFL season|1997]]
||11||5||0||.688||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[1997 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] in [[1997–98 NFL playoffs|AFC Championship Game]]'''</Small>
|-
![[1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1998 NFL season|1998]]
||7||9||0||.438||3rd in AFC Central|| – || – || – || –
|-
![[1999 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[1999 NFL season|1999]]
||6||10||0||.375||4th in AFC Central|| – || – || – || –
|-
![[2000 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[2000 NFL season|2000]]
||9||7||0||.563||3rd in AFC Central|| – || – || – || –
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2001 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[2001 NFL season|2001]]
||13||3||0||.812||'''1st in AFC Central'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[2001 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in [[2001–02 NFL playoffs|AFC Championship Game]]'''</Small>
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2002 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[2002 NFL season|2002]]
||10||5||1||.656||'''1st in AFC North'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[2002 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] in [[2002–03 NFL playoffs|AFC Divisional Game]]'''</Small>
|-
![[2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[2003 NFL season|2003]]
||6||10||0||.375||3rd in AFC North|| – || – || – || –
|-! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[2004 NFL season|2004]]
||15||1||0||.938||'''1st in AFC North'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[2004 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in [[2004–05 NFL playoffs|AFC Championship Game]]'''</Small>
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
![[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[2005 NFL season|2005]]
||11||5||0||.688||'''2nd in AFC North'''|| 4 || 0 || 1.000 || <Small>'''[[Super Bowl XL]] champions'''</Small>
|-
![[2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]||[[2006 NFL season|2006]]
||8||8||0||.500||3rd in AFC North|| – || – || – || –
|-
! colspan="2"|PIT Total||149||90||1||.623|||| 12 || 9 || .571 || 
|-
! colspan="2"|Total<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/CowhBi0.htm |title=Bill Cowher Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks – |publisher=Pro-football-reference.com |date=May 8, 1957 |access-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref>||149||90||1||.623|||| 12 || 9 || .571 || 
|}

==See also==
* [[List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins]]
* [[List of North Carolina State University people]]
* [[List of Super Bowl head coaches]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine | first=Joe | last=Posnanski | title=The Coach Who Won't Coach: After leaving the Steelers' sideline five years ago, Bill Cowher found a new career, and new contentment, on the set at CBS. And though he'd be first choice for any team with an opening, he says he's not going anywhere | date=December 19, 2011 | magazine=Sports Illustrated | url=https://www.si.com/vault/2011/12/19/106141665/the-coach-who-wont-coach | access-date=January 6, 2019}}

==External links==
* [http://profootballreference.com/coaches/CowhBi0.htm Coaching stats at profootballreference.com]
*{{wikiquoteinline}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Bill Cowher}}

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