Steelers choose Tomlin

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin accepted the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching job Sunday night and was working out a four-year contract he hoped to complete today, people close to the search told the Associated Press.

They requested anonymity because the Steelers have asked all parties involved in the search to not speak to reporters until they can make the announcement, which could come today.

Tomlin, 34, is expected to make about $2.5 million a year, the going rate of late for first-time NFL coaching hires. Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher resigned Jan. 5 after 15 seasons after apparently rejecting a $6-million-a-year contract extension offer.

Tomlin’s hiring completed a frantic 2 1/2 -week search in which he was initially viewed as an unlikely choice behind perceived front-runners Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, only to land the job after impressing the Steelers with his motivation, intensity, knowledge of defense and enthusiasm.

The Steelers issued a statement Sunday saying they had not concluded a deal, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette initially reported Sunday that Grimm had been told Tomlin was the choice.

Tomlin would become the first black coach in the Steelers’ 74-season history.

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Jim Mora is headed back to the Pacific Northwest to join the Seattle Seahawks’ coaching staff.

Mora agreed Sunday to become an assistant head coach for the Seahawks less than three weeks after being fired as coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

The team said Mora’s title is assistant head coach/secondary, but his duties have not been defined.

Mora was 26-22 in three seasons with the Falcons but was fired Jan. 1 after another second-half collapse and off-field distractions.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner from USC, is trying his hand, or rather his voice, at acting. It will be announced today that Palmer will play himself in an episode of the Disney Channel animated series “The Replacements” that will air on Feb. 3, the night before the Super Bowl.

-- Larry Stewart