The Seahawks’ offense jumped from 18th in points and 14th in yards in 2024 to third and eighth, respectively, in Klint Kubiak’s first year as offensive coordinator. Jane Gershovich / Getty Images
Two NFL head-coach vacancies remain, and one of them could be filled by Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Kubiak is expected to have second interviews with the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders for their head-coach openings this weekend, according to various reports. During Seattle’s bye week, he had virtual interviews with Arizona and Las Vegas, along with the Miami Dolphins (who have since hired Jeff Hafley), Baltimore Ravens (Jesse Minter) and Atlanta Falcons (Kevin Stefanski).
In the regular season, the Seahawks ranked third in points per game (28.4), 10th in points per drive (2.34) and 18th in EPA per play (all stats provided by TruMedia). Their offense has averaged 3.42 points per drive in the playoffs, the highest among the 14 postseason participants. They are also the No. 1 offense by EPA per play.
Kubiak entered this hiring cycle as an attractive candidate, and he’s only bolstered his resume with two excellent playoff showings. His offense has a chance to end the season with a championship if it can take down the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium. The Patriots are allowing only 8.7 points per game in the playoffs.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who calls the defense, hired Kubiak last year in hopes of having better philosophical alignment with his offensive counterpart. Macdonald liked the principles of the perimeter-based run scheme and the ways it is married to the passing concepts to help the quarterback play fast and in rhythm. Macdonald hired Kubiak to give the Seahawks an identity on offense. They are in the Super Bowl because Kubiak succeeded.
If Kubiak leaves to become a head coach, Macdonald will need to move quickly to find a replacement. For the second time in three years, Macdonald would have to fill out his staff very late in the hiring cycle. Kubiak’s departure might have ripple effects beyond simply losing the play caller.
Kubiak brought in several assistant coaches familiar with him from previous stops. Offensive line coach John Benton, quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko and offensive assistant Michael Byrne spent the 2024 season with Kubiak in New Orleans. Run game coordinator Rick Dennison and run game specialist Justin Outten also have history with Kubiak.
Even if Macdonald promoted passing game coordinator Jake Peetz — who interviewed for the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator job — to replace Kubiak, there might still be other shoes to fill if Kubiak took multiple assistants to his new team.
At his introductory news conference, Kubiak said the opportunity to coach quarterback Geno Smith attracted him to Seattle. Although that never happened, Kubiak’s history with quarterback Sam Darnold played a significant role in the best free-agent signing of the John Schneider era. Kubiak also had a history with receiver Rashid Shaheed, who was acquired in a trade with the Saints in November. Macdonald could, in theory, find someone else to run the Shanahan-inspired, wide-zone scheme, but there’s no guarantee the replacement would have the same impact on the players as Kubiak.
During the bye week, after it became clear Seattle’s offensive coordinator was in high demand, veteran receiver Cooper Kupp was asked about the qualities that would make Kubiak a good head coach.
“I gotta get up here and vouch for him to leave?” Kupp said.
When rookie left guard Grey Zabel was asked a similar question, he jokingly said, “Klint is just the worst coach ever. Don’t hire him.”
That is generally how players feel about Kubiak potentially leaving for a promotion. On one hand, they understand career ascension is natural in this business. On the flip side, Kubiak is a big part of why the Seahawks are in the Super Bowl. They had one of the league’s most explosive offenses, and the run game steadily improved as the season went on, which is what most teams strive for come playoff time.
“Guys love him,” Kupp said. “You want to play for guys like Klint. Humility is one thing I think is one of his special traits. He leans on guys. Obviously, he’s a very smart ball coach (and) understands a lot about this game.
“His humility to be able to talk to guys and maybe see, ‘Hey, there’s something that I’m asking someone to do. Maybe they can’t do it for some reason. Maybe there’s a better way to do it.’ His openness … to delegate and be able to grab everyone’s best traits and bring them all to the forefront, he does a great job of that. Yeah, I think he will be great.”
Zabel described Kubiak as an “unbelievable” person and a strong leader.
“The growth that we’ve had as an offense this year has been unbelievable,” Zabel said. “One, his football IQ is through the roof. He starts talking, and it’s just a blur as you’re trying to understand, as he breaks down certain defenses and how to attack them. But … you understand that he’s going to get an opportunity — it’s not if, it’s when — to go be a head coach.
“I wish I could say I could have him here for as long as we possibly can in Seattle. When you have an unbelievable person, unbelievable coach, unbelievable friend, it’s cool to see that he’s going to have opportunities.”
Another factor is whether Kubiak would want to relocate his family again. The Seahawks are Kubiak’s fifth team in as many seasons; he worked for the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Saints before coming to Seattle. Kubiak said he was “blessed” to not move around the country much when his father — Gary, who spent 11 years in Denver and eight in Houston from 1995 to 2013 — was coaching. His younger brothers Klay and Klein, however, “weren’t as lucky just based on when they were born.”
“That’s part of the gig, and it’s also one of the privileges, too,” Klint said on Dec. 4. “You get to see different parts of the world, and that’s what I’m trying to teach my kids right now, too, is to see the positive in it.”
Read more on The New York Times
