Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin reflects on relationship with Bill Cowher in advance of Cowher's Hall of Fame induction

During an interview in advance of his upcoming Hall of Fame induction, former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher had one request.

He wanted current coach Mike Tomlin to allow him to call one more defensive play during the Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

“Let me call one blitz,” Cowher asked. “I’ll have (former defensive coordinator) Dick LeBeau with me, too. We’ll call one blitz, see if we can get Mike to run one. It will be fun.”

During a press conference Tuesday, Tomlin embraced the idea.

“Bill can have whatever he wants,” Tomlin said. “He can have a half of play if he wants.”

Tomlin is about to start his 15th season as Steelers head coach. He took over for Cowher after the 2006 season. That was Cowher’s 15th year with the team as well.

Both men have two Super Bowl trips and one ring. Tomlin’s regular-season record is 145-78-1 (.650 winning percentage). Cowher’s was 149-90-1 (.623).

Tomlin has made the playoffs nine times. Cowher went 10 times. Cowher’s postseason record was 12-9. Tomlin’s is 8-8.

The success associated with Cowher’s tenure was something Tomlin always knew would be difficult to replicate.

“I was very aware of what he was able to accomplish and respectful of it,” Tomlin said. “I obviously realized the monumental challenge it was to uphold the standard.”

When Cowher cleaned out his office, he left a lone can of Iron City beer in the refrigerator for Tomlin. Something like the Pittsburgh version of one president leaving a note in the bottom desk drawer of the Oval Office on Inauguration Day for the next elected leader.

“It’s still in there,” Tomlin revealed Tuesday.

In a way, that may have been Cowher’s slightly more personal touch at quietly exiting during the transition of power that he felt after assuming the job from Chuck Noll before the 1992 season.

In his recently released book, “Heart and Steel,” Cowher described what those first few weeks on the job were like.

“By the time I accepted the job in January 1992, Chuck’s office was cleared out. There was no sign he had ever been there,” Cowher wrote. “There wasn’t a master handbook — How to Be a Steelers Head Coach — to page through, and as scary and uncomfortable as that was, it was also the best thing for me. I was 34, and I had my own opinions and tons to learn.

“I had to figure out how the building worked, what the dynamics were with the front office, the personnel and PR departments, and ownership. I needed to ask questions and get my own answers, not begin with any preconceived thoughts.”

Cowher also vividly recalled a very hands-off conversation between him and Noll on a private plane prior to Cowher’s first draft as head coach. Cowher was eager to pick the brain of his predecessor but got little enlightenment.

“I asked him about the work atmosphere of the office, and he answered, ‘It’s good,’” Cowher wrote. “That was it. He didn’t explain or elaborate. It’s good. I asked him how he, as the head coach, navigated the personnel department and ownership. I asked about team doctors and the media, too. He gave all one-word or one-sentence answers. It’s good. Initially, I was taken aback by his minimalist approach. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.”

I asked Tomlin if Cowher took the same strategy to his exit as Noll did.

“He’s always given me the space to do the things that the job requires,” Tomlin said. “I think anybody that has held jobs like this, understands it’s somewhat lonely. And that’s just the nature of it. Those that have done it are respectful of that and allow people to do what it is that they need to do.”

Tomlin says Cowher hasn’t had to be perpetually present to make a connection with him.

“Our interactions over the years have always been very warm. I’ve always been appreciative of that. You can feel that support of us,” Tomlin said.

But what about that can of Iron City?

“I’m gonna leave it for the next guy,” Tomlin said.

Despite a four-year drought without a playoff victory, owner Art Rooney II doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to start looking for Pittsburgh’s fourth coach since 1969.

So, I’m not sure if Iron City ages like wine, but unless Tomlin surprises us and decides to retire like Cowher did after 15 years, that “next guy” may have to wait a while to find out.

For Wednesday’s Breakfast With Benz podcast, Steelers beat reporter Joe Rutter joins me to preview the Hall of Fame game between the Steelers and Cowboys. We also look at the induction ceremonies, how camp is going so far, and Mike Tomlin’s lineup decisions for Thursday.

Listen: Tim Benz and Joe Rutter talk about the Steelers-Cowboys Hall of Fame game in Canton