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Seattle Seahawks News & Rumors

Seahawks Cut OL Chad Wheeler After Arrest

January 27th, 2021 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks waived offensive lineman Chad Wheeler on Wednesday, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets. The move comes days after his arrest on suspicion of felony assault-domestic violence. Wheeler has been charged with first-degree domestic violence assault, domestic violence unlawful imprisonment and resisting arrest, Condotta adds (on Twitter).

Ugly details from Wheeler’s alleged assault have surfaced, and the 27-year-old lineman announced (on Twitter) he will leave football. Wheeler was due for restricted free agency in March.

Wheeler was booked into the King County (Wash.) Correctional Facility early Saturday morning. The Kent Police Department responded to a call from a woman who said she believed she was “being killed,” according to a police report obtained by the Seattle Times. The woman suffered a dislocated arm and was bleeding when police arrived. Wheeler was standing beside the alleged victim when authorities arrived, according to the report.

This horrifying incident reportedly began when Wheeler asked the woman to “bow to him,” and when she did not, he threw her on a bed. The report indicates Wheeler strangled the woman until she lost consciousness. After regaining consciousness and running into a bathroom, the woman called 911. The report added that Wheeler was on medication for bipolar disorder but that he had not taken the medication recently.

Wheeler started 14 games at right tackle for the Giants in 2018. After the Giants cut the former undrafted free agent in September 2019, Wheeler signed with the Seahawks. He played in five games with Seattle this season.

Seahawks To Hire Shane Waldron

January 27th, 2021 at 7:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks are set to hire Rams passing game coordinator Shane Waldron as their offensive coordinator (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Waldron has worked for Sean McVay since 2016 — now, he’ll get to run his own offense and face his former mentor twice per year.

The Seahawks opened up their OC job with the firing of Brian Schottenheimer earlier this year. Waldron has never called plays before, but McVay has spoken highly of his acumen and leadership abilities.

“He’s a phenomenal coach,” McVay said in 2018 (via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News). “He’s a great communicator. He’s got a rare ability to authentically and genuinely connect with not only coaches but the players and be able to correct in a manner that doesn’t make guys’ guards come up. It’s all about problem-solving and doing it together.”

Former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn , Bills quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey, and Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson were also considered along the way. Ultimately, Pete Carroll went with Waldron, who becomes the latest Rams coach or exec to leave L.A. Brandon Staley, Joe Barry, Brad Holmes, Ray Agnew, and Aubrey Pleasant have all made their exits in recent weeks.

Coaching Notes: Seahawks, Titans, Dolphins

January 24th, 2021 at 9:36pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We’ve got another couple of names to pass along for Seattle’s wide-ranging offensive coordinator search. The Seahawks want to interview Bills quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey and have already spoken with Rams pass-game coordinator Shane Waldron, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. They’ve been linked to what seems like every offensive coach in the league now, including Adam Gase and other big names. Dorsey was a backup quarterback in the league for a handful of years, and the 39-year-old was the Panthers’ quarterbacks coach from 2013-17.

He joined the Bills last season. Waldron is another young guy who has coached under Rams coach Sean McVay since 2016 since they were both with Washington. He started as McVay’s tight ends coach in Los Angeles before getting promoted to quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator. The Seahawks don’t appear to be honing in on anything in particular, and at this point it’s anyone’s guess who they’ll hire.

Here are more coaching notes from around the league:

  • The Texans are the only team still with a head coach opening, but they aren’t letting one key assistant go out the door yet. They recently blocked offensive coordinator Tim Kelly from interviewing for OC openings with two other teams, and those interested teams were the Titans and Lions, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. Since it would be a lateral move and he’s still under contract, Houston can block those requests. As Breer points out, there has been buzz that Deshaun Watson likes Kelly, and the team could be looking to keep him in order to curry favor with their disgruntled starting quarterback. Detroit has since filled their vacancy with former Chargers coach Anthony Lynn.
  • Speaking of the Titans’ opening, Tennessee will be interviewing Pep Hamilton for the job in the next few days, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. Hamilton was the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach this past year, and did a great job helping with the development of Justin Herbert, so he’s been drawing a lot of interest for OC jobs. He was talked about as a candidate in Miami, and is one of the finalists in Pittsburgh as well. The Titans of course are looking to replace Arthur Smith, now the head coach in Atlanta. Hamilton coordinated the Colts’ offense from 2013-15, and had a lot of success with Andrew Luck.
  • The Dolphins are still looking for their OC, but they have made a different key hire on offense. The team has parted ways with quarterbacks coach Robby Brown and replaced him with former NFL passer Charlie Frye, they announced in a tweet. It’s the first NFL coaching gig for Frye, who was Central Michigan’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons. It’s interesting that they’d hire the QBs coach before the OC. A third-round pick of the Browns back in 2005, Frye also played with the Seahawks and Raiders until 2009.

Greg Olsen Retires From NFL

January 24th, 2021 at 4:12pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Greg Olsen is officially hanging up his cleats. After flirting with retirement the past couple of years the veteran tight end has now decided to call it a career, he announced on a FOX pre-game show.

It was a fitting setting to make the announcement, since Olsen will now begin his post-playing days as an analyst for FOX. “Proud of what I was able to accomplish in this league, proud of the relationships and everything that the game has given me,” Olsen said, via David Newton of ESPN.com. “But sometimes, when it’s time, it’s time and my time in the NFL now has come to an end. I’m excited for the next chapter. … I’ve got it all out of my system.”

The 35-year-old originally entered the league as a first-round pick of the Bears all the way back in 2007. After spending four years in Chicago where he was never featured too heavily, he was traded to the Panthers for a third-round pick. While spending the next nine years in Carolina, he became one of the most consistent and productive tight ends in the league.

From 2014-16, he had at least 77 catches and 1,008 yards in three straight seasons, making the Pro Bowl in all three of those campaigns. He also had at least five touchdowns in eight straight years from 2008-15. Injuries derailed his last few seasons with the Panthers, and he signed with Seattle this past offseason for one last run.

Another foot injury limited him to 11 games with the Seahawks, and although it was initially feared to be season-ending, he managed to battle his way back on the field for the final couple weeks and Seattle’s playoff loss. All of us here at PFR wish the Panthers legend all the best in retirement.

Jaguars Expected To Hire Brian Schneider As ST Coordinator

January 23rd, 2021 at 10:14am CST by Ben Levine

After adding a new offensive and defensive coordinator to his staff, Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has found his special teams coordinator. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that long-time Seahawks coach Brian Schneider is expected to be hired as Jacksonville’s new special teams coordinator.

Pelissero adds (via Twitter) that Larry Izzo will be taking Schneider‘s place in Seattle, as the former player has been promoted to full-time special teams coordinator.

Schneider had been with the Seahawks since 2010. He was apart of nine playoff runs in Seattle, including a 2013 Super Bowl win that saw Percy Harvin return an 87-yard kickoff for a score. During his stint with the Seahawks, the special teams unit consistently ranked toward the top of the league in takeaways, blocked kicks, and touchdowns/safeties scored.

Schneider stepped away from his role early last season for personal reasons, and Izzo was named interim special teams coordinator. When Schneider returned in November, Izzo retained the gig, and he’ll now have some job security heading into the 2021 season. Izzo earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods and three Super Bowl rings during his eight years playing with the Patriots, and he jumped right into coaching following his retirement. The 46-year-old served as the Texans special teams coordinator in 2016 and 2017.

Bolts, Seahawks Eyeing Joe Lombardi For OC

January 22nd, 2021 at 6:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints have lost two assistants this month, seeing Dan Campbell take Aaron Glenn with him to Detroit. They may be set to see a third depart. The Chargers and Seahawks have requested interviews with Saints quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi, The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan tweets.

Lombardi has been with the Saints for the past five seasons, catching on with New Orleans after the Lions ended his OC tenure after less than two years in 2015. The Saints have seen some interesting developments transpire at quarterback during Lombardi’s tenure.

After Drew Brees endured his first significant injury as a Saint in 2019, backup Teddy Bridgewater led the team to five straight wins. This season, Brees’ broken ribs brought New Orleans’ Taysom Hill experiment to the forefront. To the surprise of some, the former UDFA showed promise as a passer. Hill completed 73% of his passes at 7.7 yards per attempt and continued to mix in as a gadget player in the games in which Brees started.

Lombardi, 49, has a clear connection with the new Chargers staff. He worked as Mercyhurst’s offensive coordinator and QBs coach from 2002-05. One of Lombardi’s pupils at the Division II school during that time — newly hired Bolts HC Brandon Staley. The fast-rising coach transferred to Mercyhurst from Dayton in 2005, playing under Lombardi as a senior. Lombardi left the college ranks after that season, joining the Falcons as an assistant.

Lombardi is the second name mentioned as a Bolts OC candidate. The Rams blocked the first — Kevin O’Connell — from interviewing for the job. After the Lions went 11-5 with Lombardi as OC in 2014, they fired him after starting 1-6 the following year.

The Seahawks have been connected to big names since splitting with three-year OC Brian Schottenheimer. Anthony Lynn, Adam Gase and Doug Pederson have discussed the position with Pete Carroll. While Pederson indicated he will not coach next season, Lynn and Gase remain unattached. Lynn is also in the mix for the Lions’ OC position. The Seahawks have also interviewed Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson, who worked with Carroll at multiple stops, for the post.

Seahawks To Interview Kirby Wilson For OC

January 20th, 2021 at 5:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks have thus far focused their offensive coordinator search on recently fired head coaches, being connected to Anthony Lynn, Adam Gase and Doug Pederson. The team has a longtime assistant on its radar as well.

Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson is expected to interview for the Seahawks’ OC post, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). While this will be Wilson’s first OC interview since he met with the Ravens about their play-calling position in 2014 — a search that ended with Gary Kubiak landing the job — he has a history with Pete Carroll.

Wilson’s first NFL coaching gig came as the Patriots’ running backs coach during Carroll’s three-year stay in the late 1990s. Carroll then hired Wilson as USC’s wide receivers coach during his first year with the Trojans in 2001. Wilson, 59, has been back in the NFL since 2002, having served as running backs coach for seven teams over the past 19 seasons. He has been with the Raiders for two seasons.

The Seahawks have used only two offensive coordinators over the past 10 seasons — Darrell Bevell and Brian Schottenheimer. The team parted ways with Schottenheimer after three seasons last week. Pederson has bowed out of the running for this job early, not intending to coach next season.

Seahawks Speak With Adam Gase About OC Opening

January 18th, 2021 at 1:50pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Could Adam Gase be back running an NFL offense in 2021? The recently fired Jets coach has spoken with the Seahawks about their offensive coordinator vacancy, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Gase is one of the most polarizing coaches in recent memory, and this news will surely have some Seattle fans fired up after Gase’s disastrous tenure in New York. But prior to his time with the Jets, Gase was widely respected in league circles for his work with the Broncos and then as head coach of the Dolphins, so this news isn’t too surprising all things considered.

Bill Belichick also raved about Gase’s abilities toward the end of the season, and there’s been speculation that he could join his staff in New England, potentially as quarterbacks coach with Jedd Fisch departing or even as OC if Josh McDaniels landed a head coaching job. Fowler also notes the Seahawks plan to speak with Chiefs quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka about the opening.

Kafka, only 33, has been on the receiving end of some buzz in recent years as a quick riser. We heard when Doug Pederson was fired that the latest Andy Reid protege could be a candidate for the Eagles’ head coaching job.

Whatever the case, Gase and Kafka are far from the only two candidates to replace Brian Schottenheimer in Seattle. They’ve also been linked to fellow recently fired head coaches Anthony Lynn and Pederson. Clearly, as Fowler notes, they’re casting a wide net.

Updated 2021 NFL Draft Order

January 18th, 2021 at 11:08am CST by Zachary Links

With the Divisional Round in the books, the 2021 NFL Draft order is mostly complete. The Rams, Browns, Ravens, and Saints now have their draft spots locked in, though the Rams’ first-round pick belongs to Urban Meyer and the Jaguars. The Rams traded those rights to Jacksonville as a part of the Jalen Ramsey blockbuster.

Here’s the updated draft order, through the top 28:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins (via Texans)
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Cincinnati Bengals
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Detroit Lions
8. Carolina Panthers
9. Denver Broncos
10. Dallas Cowboys
11. New York Giants
12. San Francisco 49ers
13. Los Angeles Chargers
14. Minnesota Vikings
15. New England Patriots
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. Las Vegas Raiders
18. Miami Dolphins
19. Washington Football Team
20. Chicago Bears
21. Indianapolis Colts
22. Tennessee Titans
23. New York Jets (via Seahawks)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Rams)
26. Cleveland Browns
27. Baltimore Ravens
28. New Orleans Saints

Seahawks, Doug Pederson Discussing OC Role

January 16th, 2021 at 10:50am CST by Ben Levine

It’s been less than a week since Doug Pederson was fired as head coach of the Eagles, but it may not take long for him to find another gig. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks have spoken with Pederson about their offensive coordinator vacancy.

Following underwhelming 9-7 campaigns in 2018 and 2019, Pederson found himself on the hot seat heading into the 2020 season. We all know how that story ended; Carson Wentz regressed to a new low, and tempers flared in the building about how to handle the situation. Eventually Wentz was benched, with the team turning to second-round rookie Jalen Hurts. With injuries rising on both sides of the ball, Philly ultimately finished the season with a 4-11-1 record, their worst showing since 2012. Despite having a Super Bowl championship on his resume, Pederson was canned earlier this week.

Pederson made a name for himself when he was offensive coordinator for the Chiefs. He inherited play-calling duties from Andy Reid in 2015, and the Chiefs proceeded to win 10-straight games with Pederson at the helm. He was hired as the Eagles head coach the following offseason.

To that end, it’s not surprising that Pederson would be a candidate for offensive coordinator vacancies. The Seahawks fired three-year OC Brian Schottenheimer earlier this week, opening a spot on their staff. We’ve already heard that Anthony Lynn had talked to the organization about the role, and Pederson now joins a growing list of candidates.

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