Seahawks reportedly have their frontrunner to replace Ryan Grubb in offensive coordinator role
The Seattle Seahawks are seemingly closing in on a new offensive coordinator. Seattle made the decision to part company with Ryan Grubb following his lone season in the role, despite the Seahawks posting a 10-7 record and narrowly missing out on the playoffs. And they now look to have identified his replacement, the Seahawks scheduling […]
The Seattle Seahawks are seemingly closing in on a new offensive coordinator.
Seattle made the decision to part company with Ryan Grubb following his lone season in the role, despite the Seahawks posting a 10-7 record and narrowly missing out on the playoffs.
And they now look to have identified his replacement, the Seahawks scheduling a second, in-person interview with Klint Kubiak, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Garafolo added that it feels like Kubiak is in the driver's seat for the job.
Kubiak, who has also interviewed with the Cleveland Browns, was the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator last season. However, the in-season firing of Dennis Allen made it a given Kubiak would be available as the Saints search for a new head coach of their own.
A to Z Sports' Saint beat writer Adam Holt said of Kubiak:
Kubiak’s time with the Saints feels like it’s coming to a quick end. I don’t perceive it as much of Kubiak’s own fault, though. To begin this season, the Saints offense, when at full strength, kicked off the year with two 40-point performances. Kubiak’s pre-snap movement and play-action calls fit nicely with Derek Carr and the downfield targets in New Orleans.
As injuries mounted, particularly on the offensive line, the offense took a stark step back. The Saints did not have enough time to take as many deep shots in the passing game, and the rushing attack had limited explosive plays. Kubiak’s second half adjustments are still something of a mystery. On multiple occasions, the Saints would begin a game smoothly on offense in the first half, only to produce a lethargic second half of play because of changes made by the opposing defense made at the half.
All in all, I think Kubiak is a gifted young play-caller running a scheme that the NFL is enamored with right now. Kubiak getting another chance in Seattle makes plenty of sense, since New Orleans is still deciding who will be its next head coach."
The scheme Kubiak runs is, in essence, the Shanahan offense. His father Gary was an acolyte of Mike Shanahan, and Klint spent the 2023 season working as the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers as they went within one play of winning Super Bowl 58.
His experience in the most quarterback-friendly scheme in the game could have a huge impact on Geno Smith, a signal-caller who has continually been asked to deliver in spite of his situation rather than because of it.
And the Seahawks will likely have great hope a transition to a Shanahan disciple will bring an upturn in fortunes in the run game. Seattle finished 25th in rush Expected Points Added per play in 2024 and 23rd in success rate on the ground.
By contrast, the Saints were 13th in EPA per play running the ball and 10th in success rate. If Kubiak can engineer that kind of upturn in 2025, it could be enough for the Seahawks to be serious contenders.
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