Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Seahawks assistant coach Jim Mora has withdrawn his name from consideration for the vacant head-coaching position with the Washington Redskins. 

Mora, who coached the Falcons to a 27-23 record in three seasons with the team, widely is regarded as the hand-picked candidate to succeed Mike Holmgren in Seattle once Holmgren retires.  Today’s development could mean that Holmgren, 60, has decided to retire now.  Alternatively, it could be that Mora has received a Jim Caldwell-style style promise that, upon Holmgren’s retirement (whenever it may happen) Mora will take over.

Under the Rooney Rule, it’s permissible for a team to have an advance agreement with an assistant coach to become the head coach at some specific point in the future.  As NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed to us by e-mail on Friday afternoon, such a commitment does not constitute a violation of the rule, if the promise is contained in the assistant coach’s contract.