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Ryan Grubb

Ex-Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb Joins Alabama

February 2nd, 2025 at 9:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Ryan Grubb has had a steadily rising coaching career, with much of it coming close at the side of current Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. Ready to take the next step in his career, he parted ways with DeBoer last year and earned his first offensive coordinator job for the Seahawks.

After only one season in the NFL, though, Grubb will reportedly regroup and return to DeBoer’s side. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network confirmed today that Grubb has been hired as Alabama’s new offensive coordinator. Grubb had initially made this move last year, committing to follow DeBoer to Tuscaloosa, but the Seattle offer lured the veteran college coach to the pro game. The move did not work out.

Grubb joined the Seahawks under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald. Both rookies to their new NFL positions, and with Macdonald’s coaching background being on defense, Grubb was immediately handed play-calling duties. Grubb was also handed an extremely consistent personnel group that returned all starters at the skill positions.

While production improved overall, seeing the offense rack up more yardage in both the passing- and running-game and more touchdowns overall, the team also took a major step back in ball protection. Quarterback Geno Smith jumped from nine interceptions in 2023 to 15 this year. Additionally, a team that fumbled only eight times last year doubled that total in 2024. While RB2 and WR2 from 2023, Zach Charbonnet and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, both took big steps forward in 2024, the position leaders from 2023, Kenneth Walker and D.K. Metcalf, each took steps back.

In short, Grubb’s influence on the Seahawks offense was unremarkable, and with the team’s defense taking major strides under Macdonald, they were expecting the offense to do the same. Grubb was fired from his first NFL position in early-January.

In Alabama, DeBoer had to figure out what to do without Grubb at his side as his play-caller for the first time since 2020. DeBoer opted to give his former Washington tight ends coach Nick Sheridan the job. Sheridan was DeBoer’s tight ends coach at Indiana when DeBoer was OC there in 2019 and took over the OC job for the Hoosiers for two years when DeBoer left for Fresno State before rejoining him in Seattle two years later. This year, the Crimson Tide had a 22nd-ranked scoring offense and a 42nd-ranked total offense, both far under the standard Bama fans are used to. With Grubb returning to the fold, it’s assumed that Sheridan will take on a lesser role in the offense, though he may retain a co-offensive coordinator title.

After first joining DeBoer’s offensive staff at Sioux Falls from 2007-09, rejoining him at Eastern Michigan from 2014-16, coaching with him at Fresno State from 2017-18 and again from 2020-21, and finally, rising with him at Washington, Grubb has spent about 12 years working together with DeBoer. While Grubb may take a chance at spreading his wings out from under the shadow of DeBoer again in the future, it makes sense to see him regroup in familiar territory. In the meantime, the Crimson Tide get a huge boost in adding the technician that has been executing DeBoer’s offensive philosophy to great success over several years.

2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

January 26th, 2025 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-3-25 (2:15pm CT)

Offensive coordinators

Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)

Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)

  • John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired

Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)

New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)

Defensive coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)

Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)

Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)

  • Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

  • Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
  • Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
  • Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
  • Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
  • Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28

Las Vegas Raiders 

New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)

  • Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
  • Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired

New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)

  • Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
  • Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)

Seahawks Fire OC Ryan Grubb

January 6th, 2025 at 11:09am CST by Sam Robinson

Ryan Grubb made his professional debut this season, but the Seahawks did not like how it went. After rumors of making Grubb a one-and-done surfaced, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports the team will move on from the former college play-caller.

The Seahawks had poached Grubb from Alabama’s staff. The former Washington OC had followed Kalen DeBoer from Seattle to Tuscaloosa in 2024, but Mike Macdonald made an outside-the-box hire, with other NFL teams not showing interest in Grubb. While college interest should come Grubb’s way again, this is a quick dismissal at the pro level.

Although the Seahawks improved in total offense by going from 21st to 14th from 2023-24, they ranked 28th on the ground. That was believed to have driven Grubb to the hot seat. Macdonald may well target a more experienced option soon, as his college hire did not distinguish himself. Offensive line coach Scott Huff worked with Grubb at Washington, and the two were therefore seen by many as a package deal. Macdonald said on Monday, however, that despite Grubb’s dismissal Huff is likely to remain on staff (h/t The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar).

While Geno Smith has not taken steps forward after his Comeback Player of the Year campaign, he is at worst a middling starting QB. Grubb’s offense also produced a breakthrough effort from 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had struggled to establish consistency under Shane Waldron. Smith-Njigba jumped from 628 receiving yards as a rookie to 1,130 this season. That will certainly help Grubb if/when he returns to the college level, but this early ouster would stand to trip alarms in the NFL.

Grubb had been the play-caller during Michael Penix Jr.‘s two dominant seasons at Washington, doing plenty to elevate the left-hander to top-10 draft status. Smith finished 21st in QBR, dropping a bit from 2023; the resurgent passer also threw 15 interceptions after finishing 2023 with just nine. Granted, the latter total came in just 15 starts due to two injury-driven absences. Smith played all 17 games this season, guiding the Seahawks to a 10-7 record. Untimely INTs did help define his season, though, and it will now be three play-callers in three seasons — assuming Seattle retains its Russell Wilson successor — for the 34-year-old vet.

The Seahawks interviewed Giants OC Mike Kafka for their HC position and tried to meet with him for their OC post soon after hiring Macdonald; New York blocked the latter effort. With the Giants rumored to have Kafka on the hot seat upon retaining Brian Daboll, the two-year Big Blue play-caller could be a name to watch for this Seahawks post.

Seahawks’ Ryan Grubb Could Be On Hot Seat

January 5th, 2025 at 9:36pm CST by Ely Allen

In the first year under rookie head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks improved a game from last year’s 9-8 campaign, going 10-7 and finishing just one spot shy of a playoff berth in 2024. A defensive-minded head coach, Macdonald brought in nearby Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to serve as his offensive coordinator. A disappointing offensive performance this season, though, may force a change in that position.

In their first season, Macdonald, the former Ravens defensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator Aden Durde‘s unit finished ninth in scoring defense and 12th in total yards allowed. Grubb’s unit was a bit more middle-of-the-road, finishing 19th in points scored and 15th in total yards.

According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Grubb’s scheme disappointed in the run game, where they finished 30th in the league, despite the presence of two second-round picks in Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. The failure to establish themselves on the ground left quarterback Geno Smith in too many obvious passing situations that limited the effectiveness of the passing game.

Grubb, a well-respected offensive mind, was heavily studied by NFL teams during his time in the collegiate coaching ranks. He worked his way up through jobs in high school, the FCS, and multiple Division I FBS jobs before landing with Washington and helping them to their runner-up finish in the 2023 national championship.

Macdonald gave him his first NFL opportunity as a first-time head coach himself, and Grubb’s NFL offensive gameplan may just take a bit of time to grow and evolve. With the offense being the weak spot of the 2024 campaign, though, it makes sense that Macdonald may be interested in looking into a few changes.

Assessing NFL’s OC Landscape

February 15th, 2024 at 8:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason showed the turnover that can take place at the offensive coordinator position. As a result of several decisions in January and February, the NFL no longer has an OC who has been in his current role for more than two seasons. Various firings and defections now have the 2022 batch of hires stationed as the longest-tenured OCs.

One of the longest-tenured coordinators in NFL history, Pete Carmichael is no longer with the Saints. The team moved on after 15 seasons, a stay that featured part-time play-calling duties. The Browns canned their four-year non-play-calling OC, Alex Van Pelt, while three-year play-callers Arthur Smith and Shane Waldron are relocating this winter. Brian Callahan‘s five-year gig as the Bengals’ non-play-calling OC booked him a top job.

The recent lean toward offense-oriented HCs took a bit of a hit of a hit this offseason, with five of the eight jobs going to defense-oriented leaders. Callahan, Dave Canales and Jim Harbaugh were the only offense-geared candidates hired during this cycle. But half the NFL will go into this season with a new OC. Following the Seahawks’ decision to hire ex-Washington (and, briefly, Alabama) staffer Ryan Grubb, here is how the NFL’s OC landscape looks:

2022 OC hires

  • Ben Johnson, Detroit Lions*
  • Mike Kafka, New York Giants*
  • Wes Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
  • Frank Smith, Miami Dolphins
  • Adam Stenavich, Green Bay Packers
  • Press Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars*

Although this sextet now comprises the senior wing of offensive coordinators, this still marks each’s first gig as an NFL OC. Three of the six received HC interest this offseason.

Johnson’s status back in Detroit has been one of the offseason’s top storylines and a development the Commanders have not taken especially well. The two-year Lions OC was viewed as the frontrunner for the Washington job for weeks this offseason, and when team brass did not receive word about Johnson’s intent to stay in Detroit (thus, waiting until at least 2025 to make his long-expected HC move) until a Commanders contingent was en route to Detroit for a second interview, a back-and-forth about what exactly broke down took place. Johnson should be expected to remain a high-end HC candidate next year, but Dan Campbell will still have his services for 2024.

Kafka interviewed for the Seahawks’ HC job, and the Giants then blocked him from meeting with the NFC West team about its OC position. Rumblings about Kafka and Brian Daboll no longer being on great terms surfaced this year, with the latter yanking away play-calling duties — given to Kafka ahead of the 2022 season — at points in 2023. Taylor may also be on the hot seat with his team. Doug Pederson gave Taylor the call sheet last season, and Trevor Lawrence did not make the leap many expected. After a collapse left the Jaguars out of the playoffs, the team had begun to look into its offensive situation.

2023 OC hires

  • Jim Bob Cooter, Indianapolis Colts
  • Nathaniel Hackett, New York Jets*
  • Mike LaFleur, Los Angeles Rams
  • Joe Lombardi, Denver Broncos
  • Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens*
  • Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Drew Petzing, Arizona Cardinals*
  • Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
  • Bobby Slowik, Houston Texans*

Only nine of the 15 OCs hired in 2023 are still with their teams. One (Canales) moved up the ladder, while others were shown the door following that organization canning its head coach. The Eagles were the only team who hired an offensive coordinator last year to fire that staffer (Brian Johnson) after one season. Nick Sirianni fired both his coordinators following a wildly disappointing conclusion.

Hackett may also be drifting into deep water, given what transpired last year in New York. Rumblings of Robert Saleh — who is on the hottest seat among HCs — stripping some of his offensive play-caller’s responsibilities surfaced recently. This marks Hackett’s fourth chance to call plays in the NFL; the second-generation staffer did so for the Bills, Jaguars and Broncos prior to coming to New York. After the 2022 Broncos ranked last in scoring, the ’23 Jets ranked 31st in total offense. Hackett’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers has largely kept him in place, but 2024 may represent a last chance for the embattled coach.

Of this crop, Monken and Slowik were the only ones to receive HC interest. Neither emerged as a frontrunner for a position, though Slowik met with the Commanders twice. The Texans then gave their first-time play-caller a raise to stick around for C.J. Stroud‘s second season. Stroud’s remarkable progress figures to keep Slowik on the HC radar. Monken, who is in his third try as an NFL OC (after gigs in Tampa and Cleveland), just helped Lamar Jackson to his second MVP award. The former national championship-winning OC did not stick the landing — as Jackson struggled against the Chiefs — but he fared well on the whole last season.

Schottenheimer is on his fourth go-round as an OC, while Lombardi is on team No. 3. The latter’s job figures to be more secure, being tied to Sean Payton, compared to what is transpiring in Dallas. With the Cowboys having Mike McCarthy as the rare lame-duck HC, his coordinators probably should not get too comfortable.

2024 OC hires

  • Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills*
  • Liam Coen, Tampa Bay Buccaneers*
  • Ken Dorsey, Cleveland Browns
  • Luke Getsy, Las Vegas Raiders*
  • Ryan Grubb, Seattle Seahawks*
  • Nick Holz, Tennessee Titans
  • Kliff Kingsbury, Washington Commanders*
  • Klint Kubiak, New Orleans Saints*
  • Brad Idzik, Carolina Panthers
  • Kellen Moore, Philadelphia Eagles*
  • Dan Pitcher, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons*
  • Greg Roman, Los Angeles Chargers*
  • Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers*
  • Alex Van Pelt, New England Patriots*
  • Shane Waldron, Chicago Bears*

The 49ers do not employ a traditional OC; 16 of the 31 teams that do recently made a change. Most of the teams to add OCs this year, however, did so without employing play-calling coaches. This naturally raises the stakes for this year’s batch of hires.

Retreads became rather popular. Dorsey, Getsy, Moore, Van Pelt and Waldron were all OCs elsewhere (Buffalo, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seattle) last season. Smith will shift from calling the Falcons’ plays to running the show for the Steelers. Dorsey, Getsy and Van Pelt were fired; Moore and Waldron moved on after the Chargers and Seahawks respectively changed HCs. Moore and Smith will be calling plays for a third team; for Moore, this is three OC jobs in three years.

Coen, Kingsbury and Roman are back after a year away. Kingsbury became a popular name on the OC carousel, having coached Caleb Williams last season. This will be his second crack at an NFL play-calling gig, having been the Cardinals’ conductor throughout his HC tenure. This will be Coen’s first shot at calling plays in the pros; he was Sean McVay‘s non-play-calling assistant in 2022. Likely to become the Chargers’ play-caller, Roman will have a rare fourth chance to call plays in the NFL. He held that responsibility under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco; following Harbaugh’s explosive 2015 49ers split, Roman moved to Buffalo and Baltimore to work under non-offense-oriented leaders.

Grubb, Holz, Idzik, Pitcher and Robinson represent this year’s first-timer contingent. Grubb has, however, called plays at the college level. Robinson is the latest McVay staffer to move into a play-calling post; he was a Rams assistant for five years. A host of teams had Robinson on their OC radar, but Raheem Morris brought his former L.A. coworker to Atlanta. Pitcher appeared in a few searches as well, but the Bengals made the expected move — after extending him last year — to give him Callahan’s old job.

* = denotes play-calling coordinator

Seahawks To Hire Ryan Grubb As OC

February 10th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Mike Macdonald has landed on his new offensive coordinator. According to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, the Seahawks are hiring Ryan Grubb as their new OC.

[RELATED: Seahawks To Hire Aden Durde As DC]

After spending the past two years as the offensive coordinator at Washington, Grubb recently accepted the same position on Alabama’s coaching staff. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Macdonald recently made a “major recruiting pull” to convince Grubb to join his staff in Seattle. Per Condotta, Grubb met with Macdonald and Seahawks general manager John Schneider last night to “iron out the details” of their agreement. The move is expected to be officially announced next week.

Sources told Condotta that Grubb was always atop the Seahawks’ list of OC candidates, even as the team eyed other options like Chip Kelly and Tanner Engstrand. While some pundits believed Grubb was the leader in the clubhouse, the coach seemed to double down on his recent job offer. Per Condotta, Grubb appeared at an Alabama booster event earlier this week and introduced himself as the school’s new offensive coordinator.

Instead, the 47-year-old will be sticking in the state of Washington. He was name the Huskies’ offensive coordinator/assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach in 2022, and he immediately helped turn around the school’s offense. The team finished the 2022 campaign first in the nation in passing yards per game, and he helped guide the offense to a second-place finish in total offense.

He also worked closely with quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who emerged as one of the top signal-callers in the nation. While Penix couldn’t crack the projected top-three QB draft grouping of Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels, the prospect is still expected to hear his name called during one of the first two days of the draft.

While Grubb was recently credited with Washington’s passing offense, he also has extensive experience coaching the running game. During stops at Fresno State, Eastern Michigan, Sioux Falls, and South Dakota State, Grubb was tasked with coaching running backs and offensive linemen.

After Nick Saban retired, Alabama was quick to hire Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer. Washington opted not to promote Grubb to their open HC job, so the coordinator decided to follow his head coach to Alabama. Grubb is also expected to bring current Alabama offensive line coach (and former Washington OL coach) Scott Huff with him to the Seahawks, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Macdonald has done quick work filling his staff, adding Aden Durde as defensive coordinator and Jay Harbaugh as special teams coordinator. Grubb will be replacing Shane Waldron, who took the Bears’ OC job after the Seahawks moved on from Pete Carroll.

2024 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

February 9th, 2024 at 1:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a crowded carousel previously stopped, the 49ers opened their defensive coordinator position. Here is how the NFC champions’ search looks:

Updated 3-2-24 (10:00am CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dave Ragone)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Ken Dorsey)

  • Joe Brady, interim offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Bills): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed

Carolina Panthers (Out: Thomas Brown)

  • Marcus Brady, senior offensive assistant (Eagles): Interview requested
  • Brad Idzik, wide receivers coach (Buccaneers): Hired

Chicago Bears (Out: Luke Getsy)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Brian Callahan)

  • Andy Dickerson, offensive line coach (Seahawks): To interview
  • Dan Pitcher, quarterbacks coach (Bengals): Promoted

Cleveland Browns (Out: Alex Van Pelt)

Las Vegas Raiders (Out: Mick Lombardi)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Kellen Moore)

New England Patriots (Out: Bill O’Brien)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Pete Carmichael)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Brian Johnson)

  • Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Interviewed 1/23
  • Kellen Moore, offensive coordinator (Chargers): Hired

Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Matt Canada)

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Shane Waldron)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Dave Canales)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Tim Kelly)

  • Nick Holz, passing game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
  • Eric Studesville, associate head coach/running backs coach (Dolphins): Interview requested

Washington Commanders (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Chip Kelly, former head coach (Eagles/49ers): On team’s radar
  • Kliff Kingsbury, senior offensive analyst (USC): Hired

Defensive Coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Ryan Nielsen)

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Mike Macdonald)

  • Zach Orr, inside linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted

Buffalo Bills

  • Bobby Babich, linebackers coach (Bills): Promoted
  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Sean Desai, former defensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview

Chicago Bears (Out: Alan Williams)

  • Joe Barry, former defensive coordinator (Packers): To interview 1/27
  • Chris Harris, secondary coach (Titans): To interview
  • Eric Washington, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Bills): Hired
  • Terrell Williams, assistant head coach/defensive line coach (Titans): To interview

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Dan Quinn)

Green Bay Packers (Out: Joe Barry)

Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Mike Caldwell)

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Derrick Ansley)

  • Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Hired

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Raheem Morris)

Miami Dolphins (Out: Vic Fangio)

New England Patriots

  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Promoted
  • Michael Hodges, linebackers coach (Saints): To interview
  • Tem Lukabu, outside linebackers coach (Panthers): To interview
  • Christian Parker, defensive backs coach (Broncos): Interviewed

New York Giants (Out: Don Martindale)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Sean Desai)

  • Mike Caldwell, former defensive coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed
  • Vic Fangio, former defensive coordinator (Dolphins): Hired
  • Ron Rivera, former head coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/22

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Steve Wilks)

  • Gerald Alexander, safeties coach (Raiders): Interviewed 3/1
  • Daniel Bullocks, defensive backs coach (49ers): Interviewed 2/28
  • David Merritt, defensive backs coach (Chiefs): To interview
  • Nick Sorensen, defensive passing game specialist (49ers): Promoted
  • Brandon Staley, former head coach (Chargers): Interviewed

Seattle Seahawks (Out: Clint Hurtt)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Shane Bowen)

  • Brandon Lynch, cornerbacks coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/30
  • Dennard Wilson, defensive backs coach (Ravens): Hired

Washington Commanders (Out: Jack Del Rio)

  • Joe Cullen, defensive line coach (Chiefs): Considered a candidate
  • Joe Whitt, defensive backs coach (Cowboys): Hired

Seahawks Interested In Alabama’s Ryan Grubb For OC Role

February 1st, 2024 at 3:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

New Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald has a college option in mind to become his offensive coordinator. Weeks after accepting an offer to become Alabama’s OC, Ryan Grubb could return to Washington.

In place as the Huskies’ OC over the past two seasons, Grubb is now in play to join the Seahawks, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports. Grubb agreed to leave the Seattle-based program for Alabama in mid-January, following ex-Washington HC Kalen DeBoer — Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide successor — after the Pac-12 school soared to the national championship game. No agreement between Grubb and the Seahawks has been finalized.

Grubb, 47, has climbed the ladder in recent years. Stationed as Eastern Michigan’s offensive line coach as recently as 2016, Grubb spent the next five seasons at Fresno State. He closed that tenure with three seasons as the OC for the Mountain West Conference program. Washington ranked 13th in Division I-FBS in points per game this season, and QB Michael Penix led the nation with 4,903 passing yards. Ex-Huskies wideout Rome Odunze is on the radar to become a top-10 pick. The Seahawks are not the first team to look into Grubb, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who mentions the two-year Washington OC generated interest in the recent past.

While Grubb reversing course after starting work on the recruiting trail would be unexpected, coach backtracking is not exactly rare. Alabama has not announced his hire yet, and the allure of an NFL gig would certainly intrigue. The Seahawks must interview at least one external minority candidate to comply with the Rooney Rule, and it would surprise if the team did not meet with multiple NFL assistants as it considers Shane Waldron‘s successor.

The Seahawks did not stop Waldron from leaving, allowing Pete Carroll‘s assistants to explore other jobs. Waldron and longtime Seahawks running backs coach Chad Morton are now with the Bears, with Waldron in place as Chicago’s play-calling OC. With Macdonald set to call defensive plays, Seattle’s OC post represents the top offensive voice in the building. It will be a critical hire as the NFL’s youngest HC begins his tenure.