Seahawks give Holmgren a Harley farewell

RENTON, Wash., Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Seattle Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren said he was "touched" by the Harley-Davidson motorcycle his team gave him as a farewell gift.

Holmgren, who has announced he will leave the Seahawks after this season, was presented with a cherry-red Road King motorcycle during the NFL team's final practice under his watchful eye, The Seattle Times reported Saturday.

"I'm touched by it," Holmgren said of Friday's surprise gift. "This is really a nice Christmas present. I don't know what to say. It's really something."

The Seahawks finished the season with a 4-12 record following a 34-21 loss to Arizona Sunday.

Holmgren said he wanted Seahawks fans to remain hopeful for the future.

"And then, lastly, that this year's not typical," Holmgren, who joined the Seahawks in 1999, told the Times. "And all the goodwill, and all the support that we've received from our fans, and then all the good feeling that we've given back to our fans and to the players in the community and all that, that's real. Nothing's going to change that. Next year's going to be back right where it should be."

Holmgren wraps up his tenure as Seattle coach with a regular-season record of 86-74 and a 4-6 record in the post-season. Former Falcons Coach Jim Mora Jr. will succeed Holmgren in Seattle next season.