Chuck Noll said Monday this is the most disappointing of his 23 seasons as the Pittsburgh Steelers` coach and he hasn`t decided if he will return next year.
The Steelers` 5-8 record has increased speculation that this may be Noll`s last season. But, asked if he is under the impression he would be allowed to decide when he steps down, Noll said, ”I think so.”
”It`s something we`ll talk about after all of this is over,” Noll said, referring to his annual postseason meeting with team President Dan Rooney.
Noll, who usually refuses comment about his status until the season is over, hasn`t decided if he will ask Rooney to bring him back for a 24th season.
However, if Rooney wants to make a change, ”if they want me to move aside, it`s never been a big deal one way or another,” Noll said. ”I`ve never had a problem with that.”
The Steelers must win their final three games, including Sunday`s game at AFC Central leader Houston, to avoid their fourth losing season in the last seven years. The Steelers are 50-60 since last playing in the AFC title game in 1984 and 93-94 since their last Super Bowl, in the 1979 season.
