Mark Genito, Pittsburgh Steelers Ken Whisenhunt accepted the job to become coach of the Arizona Cardinals yesterday. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Bob Smizik: Grimm the logical choice for the Steelers' job

Russ Grimm became the leading candidate as the next Steelers coach when Ken Whisenhunt accepted the job to become coach of the Arizona Cardinals yesterday.

Mr. Grimm, the Steelers' assistant head coach and offensive line coach, could be named their head coach by the end of the week.

Mr. Whisenhunt, the Steelers' offensive coordinator, and Mr. Grimm were the top two candidates to replace Bill Cowher. Although three other coaches have been interviewed by the Steelers, it has long been considered a two-horse race between the team's top two offensive assistants.

The Steelers had not offered Mr. Whisenhunt or Mr. Grimm the job. They also were not given an opportunity to counter the job offer that Mr. Whisenhunt accepted from the Cardinals yesterday.

Arizona will officially announce Mr. Whisenhunt's hiring tomorrow.

The Steelers also have interviewed Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey and two defensive coordinators from NFC teams -- Ron Rivera of the Chicago Bears and Mike Tomlin of the Minnesota Vikings. By virtue of the Bears' beating the Seattle Seahawks in their playoff game yesterday, Mr. Rivera could not be hired until either Chicago loses next Sunday in the NFC championship game or until after the Feb. 4 Super Bowl.

The Steelers also asked and received permission from the Houston Texans to talk to Mike Sherman, that team's assistant head coach/offense, but an interview isn't expected to be scheduled.

Cowher last week recommended that the Steelers hire Mr. Gailey, and because of that Mr. Gailey was a late addition to the team's list of candidates and was interviewed on Saturday in Pittsburgh. However, he is not considered a viable candidate for the job.

The Steelers still could conduct a second round of interviews. If they do, Mr. Grimm and perhaps Tomlin would be those brought in. But for the Steelers to hire anyone but Mr. Grimm at this point would be considered a monumental upset. All of the Steelers' assistant coaches are under contract through next season and team officials want to keep the continuity of a staff they believe is among the best they've had on a team one year removed from a Super Bowl championship.

Because those coaches are under contract, Mr. Whisenhunt will be unable to bring many -- if any -- with him to Arizona. Mr. Grimm likely would promote wide receivers coach Bruce Arians to offensive coordinator, a job he once held in Cleveland. Mr. Grimm would have to hire a running backs coach to replace the retired Dick Hoak, a receivers coach to replace Mr. Arians and an offensive line coach to replace himself.

The Steelers may allow quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple to join Mr. Whisenhunt as his offensive coordinator in Arizona. That would create another opening for a quarterbacks coach with the Steelers.

Mr. Grimm, 47, a native of Scottdale who played at Southmoreland High School, began his coaching career under Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs with the Redskins in 1992, first as tight ends coach and later as offensive line coach under Norv Turner. He joined the Steelers as offensive line coach in 2001 and added the title of assistant head coach in 2004.

He played center at Pitt and was an all-NFL 1980s guard for the famous Hogs offensive line in Washington, where he earned three Super Bowl rings. He is a finalist for the 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame class that will be chosen Feb. 3 in Miami. Last year, the football stadium at Southmoreland High School was named after him. He played quarterback and linebacker on the football team there, center on the basketball team and threw javelin on the track team.

Mr. Whisenhunt was an unqualified success as the Steelers' offensive coordinator after Mr. Cowher promoted him from tight ends coach to the job in 2004 when Mike Mularkey left to become head coach of the Buffalo Bills.

The Steelers slumped to 6-10 in 2003, and Mr. Cowher admitted he became much too enamored with the passing game. Mr. Whisenhunt made a determined effort to run the ball in 2004 and, because of an injury to starting quarterback Tommy Maddox in the second game, he was forced to start rookie Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers finished 15-1 that season as Mr. Roethlisberger went 13-0 as the starter, but lost in the AFC championship game to New England. Last year, the Steelers won the Super Bowl.

"Ken Whisenhunt is the kind of guy, even as a young kid when he was 18, he always had that look about him that he would accomplish anything he wanted to do," said ESPN commentator Bill Curry, who coached Mr. Whisenhunt at Georgia Tech. "Not only did he think that, he had the work ethic to follow through and do that. Whatever he set his sights on, you got the sense this guy is going to do it."

Mr. Whisenhunt becomes the fifth coach to go directly from Mr. Cowher's staff to an NFL head coaching job. Grimm would be the sixth.