During the pregame show for Saturday’s AFC Divisional Round matchup between the Titans and Ravens on CBS Sports, 
president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, David Baker, showed up on set to surprise Bill Cowher with the news that he had been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a part of the class of 2020. Cowher is the first selection of the class, which will have twenty members.
Cowher, of course, built his Hall of Fame pedigree as the head coach of the Steelers from 1992-2006. Following in the footsteps of another Hall of Fame coach, Chuck Noll, Cowher led Pittsburgh to 11 playoff appearances, 6 AFC Championship games, 2 Super Bowls, and a Super Bowl victory in his penultimate season with the team.
Prior to Cowher’s arrival in Pittsburgh, the team had failed to make the playoffs in five of their previous six campaigns. After Cowher’s arrival, the team reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons, including Super Bowl XXX (where they lost to the Cowboys). At that time, Cowher was the youngest head coach to reach the Super Bowl. Still, it would take him another ten years to reach the Super Bowl again. When he did, the Steelers defeated the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, giving him his only Super Bowl ring.
After just one more season, Cowher stepped down to spend more time with his family. Since he has served as an analyst with CBS Sports. While many teams have been rumored to make runs to get Cowher back on the field, it appears he is content with what he has accomplished.
In the end, Cowher finished his career with a 149-90-1 regular season record and a 12-9 postseason record.
nice! congrats!
I have a sort of complicated question but possibly really simple
If he were to go back into coaching and won like 3 more Super Bowls, can he be elected again.
And if a player has a HOF career, let’s take Jason Witten, and then has a HOF coaching career can he be put in twice, as a player then coach
No to your first example, but yes to your second. A HOF player can later go in again as a HOF coach.
Why would you think a HOF coach can be elected as a HOF coach twice? No he cannot. He can come back as GM or something. Win three superbowls and maybe go in as HOF executive but elected once as a coach you cannot be elected again as a coach
Yes you can be elected as a player and then again as a coach or executive. Ozzie newsome will likely make it in as an executive and is already in as a player.
Wow, might be Cowher, Polamalu, Faneca, and Donnie Shell all going in the same year!
Donnie Shell is not a HOF player
When he retired he had the most picks from his position. He was on the all pro team 4 times. Lastly, Joe Nameth made it and he s*cked lol
Bad example Namath won a Super Bowl with the Jets he did a lot for the popularity of the NFL
Shell won 4 Super Bowls. And he did it without being a drunk and lecher.
Well they let Cowher in so the bench has been lowered. Lots of coaches have one super bowl and are not in.
I think you mean the bar has been lowered…..
No I meant bench, thanks though amigo.
Very deserving. Not many coaches lead their teams to 6 championship games and 2 Super Bowl (granted, one loss). I also believe, from memory, he only had 1 losing year in 14. That’s pretty solid.
(P.s. you meant bar. If you meant “bench”, you really meant benchmark. That’s the only way your comment makes sense. Swallow your pride).
Your sister swallows my pride
Classy. You must be from Cleveland.
He had two 7-9 seasons and a 6-10 season.
Who’s a drunk
4 Super Bowls, 5 Pro Bowls, 3 First Team All Pro, and 51 INT…… HOF numbers for sure
20 members?
It’s a special 100 year anniversary class.
See Peter Kings FMIA
columns for reference…..
I thought Jimmy Johnson would have been elected before Bill
Who else is getting in on Wednesday?
A dumb question.,.. How did he find out today? I know they usually vote for the people to get elected the night before the SuperBowl? why did he get in tonight??
Insider information…..
hope tom flores is other. Actually think it should be coryell but has died. would give flores chance to get his due while he is still living. cowher is deserving just would have pick coryell and flores first.
Pete Gogolak revolutionized the pro kicking game yet is never considered for the Hall of Fame…ridiculous!
Cowher should get credit for Super Bowl 43 too since Tomlin won it with his predecessor’s team and playbook.
Congrats to Bill. Wish he was still coaching the Steelers!
Question is why? He isnt a HOF coach. Maybe for TV but coaching? Wow who next Mike McCarthy? Sad day in the NFL
I agree. Cowher had a good career, would have been Hall of Fame if longer with sustained success. Real Old Boys Network stuff here. HoF is not supposed to be for “being a nice guy”.