The Seattle Seahawks have a new direction, a new philosophy and a new coach - Tom Flores.
In their post-Chuck Knox era, they could resemble the Los Angeles Raiders, a team Flores coached to two Super Bowl championships in nine seasons."Offensively, my personality is to put the ball down the field a little bit more," Flores said Monday after officially succeeding Knox as coach of the Seahawks. "I like to spread it out and challenge them up the field."
"When you win two Super Bowls, that's not bad for a start," Seahawks owner Ken Behring said of Flores. "Our philosophy is very much the same. I think he will bring that philosophy of knowing how to win."
Behring, the California land developer who has owned the Seahawks for four years, was on hand at a news conference to announce Flores' new role.
The 54-year-old Flores has spent the past three seasons as the Seahawks' president and general manager. He will remain as president although he will drop the title of general manager, letting others in the Seahawks front office handle player contract negotiations.
Flores coached the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1979 through 1987 under owner Al Davis. He piloted the Raiders to Super Bowl championships at Oakland in the 1980 season and in Los Angeles in the 1983 season.
After a 5-10 record that included a 1-2 mark during an NFL players' strike, Flores resigned as the Raiders' coach with a year remaining on his contract. He served as a consultant to the Raiders in 1988. Flores said he was burned out when he left the Raiders, but is ready to return to coaching because he missed it.
"I decided it was time," he said.
Behring emphasized he didn't pressure Flores into replacing the 59-year-old Knox, who resigned Dec. 27.
Behring said he thought the team was mired in mediocrity under Knox. In the years Behring has owned the Seahawks, they are 32-32. They have missed the playoffs three seasons in a row.
"I want to eventually be the best, although I know you may suffer getting there," Behring said.