After being spurned by the Steelers, Russ Grimm is following Ken Whisenhunt to the desert. The Cardinals on Tuesday named Grimm as their assistant head coach and offensive line coach. Grimm will work under Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers' offensive coordinator for the last three years and was named Cardinals coach on January 14.

Mike Tomlin, the defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers -- the first black head coach in the team's 74-year history. He accepted the job Sunday night and the hiring was announced Monday, with the contract to be completed later in the day. He was negotiating a four-year contract expected to pay him about $2.5 million a year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to name Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin as their new head coach, ESPN's Chris Mortensen confirmed Saturday night. Sources told Mortensen that the team would announce Tomlin as coach either Sunday or Monday. Tomlin would become only the third Steelers coach in 38 years, and the first black head coach in their 74-year history. Tomlin, a former Tampa Bay assistant, has been the coordinator for just one season under Brad Childress in Minnesota. Before that, he was a Buccaneers' secondary coach, a five-year spell that included installation of the teams' trademark "Tampa-2" scheme. He was an assistant coach in the collegiate ranks from 1995 to 2000. Sports Illustrated's Web site, SI.com, first reported that Pittsburgh had decided on Tomlin earlier Saturday. Steelers owner Dan Rooney told The Associated Press he had no comment. Team president Art Rooney II, leaving the team's practice complex Saturday, said he had nothing to say. A person with knowledge of the search denied Tomlin has been hired, telling the AP that not only has the job not been offered but there have been no contract negotiations.

The Steelers have narrowed their wish list of candidates to replace Bill Cowher to three names -- Russ Grimm, Ron Rivera and Mike Tomlin -- but have not yet made a decision on their next head coach. The Steelers declined Saturday to confirm they have chosen a coach to replace Cowher, who resigned less than a year after leading the team to its first Super Bowl victory in 26 years. A report on Sports Illustrated's Web site, SI.com, on Saturday indicated that Tomlin had been chosen as the successor to Cowher, but the Vikings' defensive coordinator told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that no decision had been made. "It is untrue," Tomlin said of the report. "I have no idea where it's coming from." Sources also told ESPN.com's John Clayton that the report was incorrect, and the Steelers are not expected to make a decision until Monday at the earliest.

Mike Tomlin, defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, has been chosen as the Pittsburgh Steelers' new head coach, SI.com has learned. The official announcement is expected to come sometime in the next two days. Tomlin, 34, impressed the Steelers during the interview process with his organization skills, intelligence and grasp of the game, according to a source familiar with the coaching search. He would succeed Bill Cowher, who resigned Jan. 5 after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach.

After interviewing for NFL coaching jobs in Pittsburgh and Miami, Chan Gailey said Friday he's staying at Georgia Tech.

The Steelers were determined not to rush into hiring a new coach, even if it meant losing a top candidate to another NFL team. After all, the Steelers have had two coaches in 38 years -- and both were Super Bowl winners. They didn't want to hastily fill what traditionally is the most stable coaching job in pro sports. The Steelers' diligence in finding Bill Cowher's successor cost them offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, a move that leaves offensive line coach Russ Grimm as the clear front-runner. It also could mean the Steelers will have their new coach in place by the end of the week.

Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey will be interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers' coaching job, the fifth coach to meet with the team since Bill Cowher resigned last week.

The Arizona Cardinals are bringing Mike Sherman back for a second interview for their coaching vacancy on Thursday. At least two others are expected to have second sessions, but their names were not revealed when the team announced Wednesday it would meet again with Sherman. The Cardinals are believed to be waiting to see what happens in Pittsburgh, where Steelers assistants Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm are leading candidates to replace Bill Cowher.

The Steelers may be close to choosing Bill Cowher's successor. With assistant coaches Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt the front-runners, the Steelers wrapped up their fourth interview in four days by meeting Wednesday with Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin. If the Steelers have any more interviews scheduled, they aren't saying. Tomlin is 34, the same age Cowher was when the Steelers hired him in 1992. Tomlin is a decided long shot in Pittsburgh, but is one of the NFL's rising young coaches who also interviewed with the Dolphins. "I don't see myself as 34," Tomlin said. "I just see myself as a football coach." The question now is whether the Steelers -- namely, president Art Rooney II and chairman Dan Rooney -- see Grimm or Whisenhunt as the better head coach. And it could be that both will be head coaches within a matter of days.