Michael Barrow - Pro Football Rumors

Seahawks Fire DC Kris Richard

January 16th, 2018 at 5:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In a move that should come as no surprise given that the Seahawks hired a new defensive coordinator in Ken Norton Jr. on Monday, Seattle has fired ex-DC Kris Richard, the club announced today. The Seahawks also parted ways with assistant head coach/linebackers Michael Barrow.

Reports last week indicated that Seattle was prepared to move on from Richard, with head coach Pete Carroll reportedly suggesting Richard should develop further as a coach elsewhere. Richard is clearly held in high regard throughout the NFL, as he garnered a head coaching interview with the Colts earlier this month. Indianapolis is closing in on Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as its next head coach, so Richard won’t have a viable opportunity with the Colts going forward.

Richard could conceivably receive further interest as a head coach from other clubs, but it seems unlikely that teams will add a new candidate to their respective searches at this late stage. More likely, Richard will have the chance to resurface as a defensive coordinator with another team. As PFR’s 2018 Coordinator Tracker shows, there are currently no DC vacancies around the league, but a few more spots should open as new head coaches are hired.

Richard, 38, was named Seattle’s defensive coordinator in 2015 after spending five years as a defensive assistant with the club. While directing the Legion of Boom, Richard helped the Seahawks finish fourth, fifth, and 13th in DVOA in his three years as play-caller. That dip in 2017 coincided with a number of injuries on the defensive side of the ball, but may have also convinced Carroll & Co. to bring in a fresh voice.

Seattle has committed to a fresh start from a coaching standpoint, as the club has now fired its top four assistants, including two from each unit: Richard and Barrow on defense, plus offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and assistant head coach/offensive line Tom Cable.

Seahawks Promote Kris Richard To DC

February 9th, 2015 at 8:00pm CST by Zachary Links

8:00pm: The Seahawks also named Michael Barrow as their linebackers coach, Brennan Carroll as an assistant offensive line coach, and added Lofa Tatupu as an assistant linebackers coach, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter).

6:40pm: The Seahawks announced that they have promoted secondary coach Kris Richard to defensive coordinator, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (on Twitter). The move has been long rumored but it was not official until Seattle’s Monday night press release.

Richard was a popular man this offseason as new Falcons coach Dan Quinn tried to get Richard to come to Atlanta. Ultimately, Richard declined to follow his friend to the Falcons and one has to imagine he had a pretty good idea a promotion was coming his way.

Richard has long been a member of the Seahawks family, having first arrived in Seattle as a third-round choice in 2002. The cornerback only played for the Seahawks for three seasons before having stints with the Dolphins, 49ers, and Raiders, but he would later join up with Pete Carroll as an assistant on his USC staff. Later on, he followed his coach and mentor to the Seahawks. Seattle, of course, has been known for one of the toughest (if not the toughest) secondaries in the league under Richard’s watch.

Ken Norton Jr. was also considered to be a strong in-house candidate, but he was recently scooped up by the Raiders to be their defensive coordinator.

NFC West Notes: Los Angeles, 49ers, Seahawks

February 9th, 2015 at 5:35pm CST by Luke Adams

With the Rams seemingly inching closer to Los Angeles, the NFL issued a memo to all 32 teams today to remind them that the league will make the major decisions regarding relocation, not the individual clubs, as Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times writes. In the memo, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the forming of the “Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities,” consisting of owners Clark Hunt (Chiefs), Robert Kraft (Patriots), John Mara (Giants), Bob McNair (Texans), Jerry Richardson (Panthers), and Art Rooney (Steelers).

The newly formed committee will “evaluate the various stadium options available in Los Angeles, oversee the application of the relocation guidelines in the event that one or more clubs seek to move to Los Angeles, ensure proper coordination with other standing committees … and confirm that all steps taken in Los Angeles are consistent with the Constitution and Bylaws and NFL policies.”

Meanwhile, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, any effort by 31 different businesses to tell one business how (and where) it will do business becomes a potential violation of the antitrust laws. Whether Stan Kroenke is willing to take things to court, however, is a different story. More from the NFC West..

The 49ers formally announced Jim Tomsula‘s full coaching staff today, including previously reported names like Geep Chryst (offensive coordinator), Tony Sparano (tight ends coach), Eric Mangini (defensive coordinator), and Jason Tarver (senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach).
At least one 49ers player isn’t enthusiastic about the new staff in San Francisco. According to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link), a Niner told him that he thinks the coaching changes will hurt the team: “Everyone will see soon enough.”
Although Tommy John surgery was originally viewed as likely for Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, he won’t have to undergo the procedure after all, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter links). Since Sherman’s injured elbow is feeling better this week, the team intends to opt for rehab and monitor the situation, with the hope of avoiding surgery.
According to Peter Ariz of CanesInSight.com (via Twitter), another one of Pete Carroll‘s sons will be joining the Seahawks head coach in Seattle. Ariz reports that University of Miami wide receivers coach Brennan Carroll will take a position on the Seahawks’ staff, which already includes assistant WRs coach Nate Carroll.
Meanwhile, another Hurricanes assistant may be headed to the Seahawks as well, per Thayer Evans of SI.com, who tweets that linebackers coach Michael Barrow is expected to accept the same position in Seattle. The team’s former linebackers coach, Ken Norton Jr., accepted the defensive coordinator job in Oakland last week.

Zach Links contributed to this post.