GREEN BAY, Wis. — Mike Sherman, the Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator and a former Green Bay assistant, will be hired as the new coach of the Packers, a team source told The Associated Press Monday.
A longtime college assistant coach with just three years of NFL experience, Sherman suddenly emerged as general manager Ron Wolf's choice when the GM's early favorites — former Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer and Rams offensive coordinator Mike Martz — took themselves out of the running.
The Post-Crescent of Appleton and ESPN first reported Sherman's hiring.
Sherman and his agent were on their way to Green Bay on Monday night. Wolf was returning to Green Bay from Mobile, Ala., where he was scouting at the Senior Bowl.
Wolf fired Ray Rhodes and his staff on Jan. 3 after the Packers completed an 8-8 season, Rhodes' first in Green Bay. The GM cited a team-wide lack of discipline and focus, and he vowed his new coach would create a "well-disciplined, tough and hard-nosed football team."
Sherman, who has no head coaching experience, spent two years as Mike Holmgren's tight ends coach in Green Bay before moving to Seattle with Holmgren last January, where he doubled as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.
Sherman apparently made a strong impression when Wolf interviewed him in Green Bay on Saturday. Wolf said the search for Rhodes' replacement would be "a lengthy process," yet he settled on Sherman just two weeks after firing Rhodes.
Wolf and team president Bob Harlan, who was traveling, did not return phone calls Monday night.
Wolf apparently chose a coach who would keep the West Coast offense that brought the Packers their recent success and which three-time MVP quarterback Brett Favre is most comfortable running.