The NFL is becoming increasingly comprised of first-time head coaches, with 13 “rookie” coaches filling the 15 head-coaching openings in the league the past two years, and 25 of the 32 coaches with their first NFL team in that capacity.

Seattle’s head coaching torch has been passed from Mike Holmgren to Jim Mora. But Seattle is in the process of tweaking its coaching staff as well.

The coaching class of 2010 is shaping up to be like the quarterback class of 1983.

Next season, the three coaches expected to be available for hire at anytime are former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren and former Steelers coach Bill Cowher. Two others, Tony Dungy and Bill Parcells, also could be added to the collection.

The Seahawks are out of the playoff hunt, but fans still packed the stands at Qwest Field Sunday. They braved blowing snow and freezing temperatures to say goodbye to Mike Holmgren, who coached his final home game.

I can’t help but notice some hesitation on the part of some pundits when they discuss Mike Holmgren coaching his final two games before stepping away from the game in 2009, because they aren’t entirely certain the Seahawks coach will be stepping away from the sidelines.

Speculation continues to mount that Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren might be willing to take another head coaching job next season. Yet those that know Holmgren best are as adamant as ever that Holmgren will deactivate himself next season and take a sabbatical from the league.

Mike Holmgren has been a winner during his 16-year head coaching career. But he’s having a little trouble with year 17. Nothing has gone right for the Seahawks this season, who were all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by Arizona in Week 11.

Even before the 49ers dismissed head coach Mike Nolan this week, speculation had run rampant that Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren could surface in a Bill Parcells-executive-type role in San Francisco next season.

It might be fitting that the 49ers’ first coach in the post-Mike Nolan era will take place against the Seahawks in San Francisco.

Standing on the opposite sideline will be Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, a former 49ers assistant and Bay Area native whose name has been brought up as a possibility down the line to guide the 49ers’ franchise.