• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Whisenhunt faces former team as Cards host Steelers

Sep 30, 2007 - 12:21 PM Pittsburgh (3-0) at Arizona (1-2) Sunday 4:15 pm EDT

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) - Ken Whisenhunt thought he was in line to become the new coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers when Bill Cowher retired.

Instead, Whisenhunt will be guiding the Arizona Cardinals when they host the Steelers on Sunday.

Whisenhunt had served as the Steelers' offensive coordinator the past three seasons. When he took over in 2004, the Steelers drafted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who led the team to a Super Bowl title in his second season.

When Cowher retired after 15 seasons, it was thought that either Whisenhunt or former Steelers offensive line coach Russ Grimm would take over.

But after the Steelers took their time finding Cowher's replacement, Whisenhunt took the Arizona job, becoming the club's seventh coach since the franchise moved to the desert in 1988.

Grimm, who also interviewed for the Pittsburgh job, joined Whisenhunt in Arizona, where he is the club's offensive line coach.

Meanwhile, Steelers president Art Rooney II made a somewhat surprising decision, tabbing 34-year-old Mike Tomlin as his new coach.

Tomlin's lack of experience hardly has showed as the Steelers outscored the opposition by a lopsided 97-26 en route to their first 3-0 start since 1992. Pittsburgh has not started 4-0 since winning its first five games in 1979.

A former defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, Tomlin has brought his aggressive style with him to Pittsburgh. The Steelers lead the league in scoring defense, allowing just 8.7 points.

The catalyst for the Steelers on offense has been speedy running back Willie Parker, who leads the league with 368 rushing yards. Parker, who has three straight 100-yard games, gained 133 in last Sunday's 37-16 thrashing of San Francisco.

Pittsburgh is expected to be without wide receiver Hines Ward due to a sprained knee.

Whisenhunt made his first statement coaching move in last Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, when he pulled quarterback Matt Leinart in favor of veteran Kurt Warner.

The decision by Whisenhunt provided a spark, as the Warner rallied the Cardinals from a 20-3 deficit by completing 15-of-20 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

But despite Warner's big half, Whisenhunt is expected to go back to Leinart as the starter.