Coach Mike Macdonald will need his third OC in as many seasons, but the search may not be nearly as extensive as it was when the Seahawks hired Kubiak to replace Ryan Grubb. Tacoma News Tribune’s Gregg Bell reported on Monday that Seattle is “closing in on hiring” a current coaching staff member to be the newest play-caller.
Obvious internal candidates would be quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko (although his prior working experience with Kubiak across three teams could mean he goes with him to Vegas), pass game coordinator Jake Peetz, and run game specialist/assistant offensive line coach/co-running backs coach Justin Outten. It should be noted that Outten was not present for the Seahawks’ media availability interviews on Wednesday or Thursday. Perhaps a little hint as far as the next OC? Outten was the OC for the Denver Broncos in their ill-fated 2022 season, although Nathaniel Hackett called the plays up until he ceded those duties to… Klint Kubiak.
(Editor’s note: When Hackett was fired, Outten called plays in Weeks 17-18 under interim HC Jerry Rosburg)
Yes, the Seahawks just won the Super Bowl with two key members from the legendarily bad 2022 Broncos staff. One just became a head coach and the other might be Seattle’s OC for 2026.
We’ll likely know as soon as this week who Kubiak’s successor will be.