Mora to succeed Holmgren in Seattle

SEATTLE, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Seattle Seahawks Wednesday said that defensive backs coach Jim Mora Jr. will succeed head coach Mike Holmgren after the 2008 season.

The former coach of the Atlanta Falcons has a four-year deal in place to step up from his assistant's job to replace Holmgren, who told franchise officials that 2008 -- his 10th with the as the head coach -- would be his last.

"This makes a lot of sense for the organization," Holmgren said during a news conference.

"The process reconfirmed that the quality of life for my family in Seattle is my first priority," the 46-year-old Mora told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Monday after his meeting with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.

Mora began his pro coaching career in 1985 with San Diego and has also been an assistant with New Orleans and San Francisco, where he was the defensive coordinator for five seasons before he the Falcons' head coach from 2004-2006.