Seattle Seahawks News & Rumors

Seahawks Request OC Interview With Vikings Assistant Grant Udinski

January 14th, 2025 at 9:50pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Seahawks requested an interview with Vikings assistant Grant Udinski for their vacant offensive coordinator position, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Udinski is currently the assistant offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Minnesota. He has helped the Vikings navigate major quarterback injuries in each of the last two years, including a 2023 season that saw four different players start under center. In 2024, Udinski coached Sam Darnold to a career-best season with top-five finishes in passing yards (4,319) and touchdowns (35) among all quarterbacks.

Udinski began his career as a coaching assistant under Matt Rhule in Carolina in 2020 and 2021 before joining Kevin O’Connell‘s staff as an assistant to the head coach in 2023. If hired, the 28-year-old would become the youngest coordinator in the NFL and would match the likes of Sean McVay (Washington) and Nick Rallis (Arizona) as being hired as coordinators at this age.

Udinski is the fourth reported Seahawks offensive coordinator candidate. He also joins QBs coach Josh McCown in generating interest from O’Connell’s offensive staff. McCown, who joined Minnesota’s staff last year, is set to interview for the Jets’ head coaching job.

The team has already interviewed Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley, Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown, and Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The Seahawks’ interview process is expected to expand beyond these four candidates, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Browns Interview Saints’ Klint Kubiak For OC

January 13th, 2025 at 12:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns are interviewing Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the same position on Monday, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Kubiak has a history with Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. The two overlapped on the Vikings’ offensive coaching staff in 2013 and 2014. Kubiak was an offensive quality control coach, while Stefanski was the assistant quarterbacks coach one season and tight ends coach the next.

Stefanski has hired a former Vikings colleague before. His first defensive coordinator in Cleveland was Joe Woods, who arrived in Minnesota as the defensive backs coach in 2006, the same year Stefanski was hired as an assistant to then-head coach Brad Childress.

Kubiak is also scheduled to meet with the Seahawks for their OC job on Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He is still under contract with the Saints, but the team granted both interview requests amid their own search for a new head coach. Their list of candidates includes five current offensive coordinators. If one of them gets the job, Kubiak could lose his play-calling duties or be replaced altogether.

The Saints were one of the hottest offenses in the league to start the season with 91 points in their first two games. Injuries to key players hinder the rest of their season; Derek Carr, Chris Olave, Alvin Kamara, Rashid Shaheed, Erik McCoy, and Taysom Hill all missed significant time.

Kubiak would face a tough task ahead of him in Cleveland. The Browns offense finished with the fewest points, second-fewest yards per play, and most turnovers in the NFL in 2024 as they cycled through four different quarterbacks and struggled to stay healthy along the offensive line.

Kubiak’s first order of business would be working with Stefanski and Browns general manager Andrew Berry to decide on the team’s next starting quarterback. Deshaun Watson may miss the entire 2025 season after re-tearing his Achilles, Jameis Winston is set to hit free agency this spring, and neither Dorian Thompson-Robinson nor Bailey Zappe have showed they can be a long-term starter in the NFL.

Winston has expressed a desire to return to Cleveland, and the Browns also have the second overall pick in the draft. They could pair the familiar veteran with a top rookie prospect to start rebuilding after the disastrous trade for Watson in 2022.

Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald Endorses New Geno Smith Contract

January 12th, 2025 at 4:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the Seahawks’ season over, attention has turned to the team’s most important looming financial decisions. At the top of that list, of course, is a call on how to handle quarterback Geno Smith‘s future.

Smith is under contract for 2025, but he is slated to carry a cap hit of $44.5MM. A new deal will need to be worked out to avoid carrying such a cumbersome figure, and after attempting to kickstart extension talks this past summer Smith’s camp has made it clear he wants a fresh round of commitments from the team. Seattle has a window of opportunity in this situation, with none of his 2025 base salary guaranteed and his roster bonus not due until March 20.

That bonus was set to check in at $10MM, but Smith’s performance in Week 18 changed the situation. The 34-year-old hit three separate contract escalators, bringing the value of his bonus to $16MM (as detailed by ESPN’s Brady Henderson). By the time the new league year begins, though, more clarity will have emerged with respect to whether or not team and player will be willing to continue their relationship. The Seahawks are expected to scan the quarterback market this offseason, something which could provide them with a Smith replacement. Head coach Mike Macdonald would be on board with making a new commitment in the veteran, however.

“I want Geno to be here,” Macdonald said (via Henderson). “I think he’s a heck of a player… I feel like Geno’s the best for the team right now. I’ll be involved with [contract talks]. Ultimately it’s not my decision. It’s a Seahawks decision, but Geno knows how we feels about him and we love him as our starting quarterback, for sure.”

Winning out a competition with Drew Lock to serve as Russell Wilson‘s successor in 2022, Smith exceeded expectations en route to the Comeback Player of the Year award during his first campaign as Seattle’s starter. He followed that up with a second straight Pro Bowl season, but with the Seahawks falling short of the postseason and moving on from Pete Carroll, questions loomed about Smith’s status moving forward. As more of his 2024 compensation became locked in, it became clear the former second-rounder would again handle QB1 duties.

Smith recorded 4,320 passing yards and a 70.4% completion percentage this season; both of those figures represent franchise records he had already set in 2022. Given his age and the fact Seattle again failed to qualify for the playoffs, however, it would be feasible for a reset under center (or at least the addition of a young passer capable of taking over from Smith down the road) to be a top organizational goal In any event, the team’s search for a new offensive coordinator represents a key element in this situation. The Seahawks own the No. 18 selection in April’s draft.

Seattle is among the teams currently slated to be over the cap for the 2025 league year, meaning a number of financial moves will be required over the coming weeks. One which lowers Smith’s cap hit will no doubt be among them, but how the team goes about doing that will make for an interesting storyline.

2025 NFL Cap Carryover, By Team

January 11th, 2025 at 9:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the regular season in the books, all NFL teams have declared their cap carryover for the 2025 league year. Unused cap space from the current campaign will roll over, a substantial element of many teams’ financial planning.

Last offseason saw a record-breaking jump in the salary cap ceiling (pushing the upper limit to $255.4MM). To no surprise, another spike is expected but a smaller year-to-year increase is likely to take place. It was learned last month that teams are preparing for the 2025 cap to check in at a figure between $265MM-$275MM.

As teams evaluate key roster-building decisions – including restructures and cuts aimed at manufacturing cap space – carryovers are crucial. It it still not known what exactly the cap ceiling will wind up as, but in the meantime every club’s space which has been rolled over will add a degree of clarity with respect to how their offseason will take shape. Several teams (including the top two on this year’s list) have made a concerted effort in recent years to carry unused space through the course of a campaign knowing a spike in cap charges for core players are forthcoming.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is the full breakdown of each team’s 2025 cap carryover amount:

San Francisco 49ers: $50.01MM
Cleveland Browns: $41.95MM
New England Patriots: $34.86MM
Las Vegas Raiders: $33.57MM
Detroit Lions: $23.73MM
Washington Commanders: $19.83MM
Dallas Cowboys: $18.84MM
Jacksonville Jaguars: $15.89MM
Green Bay Packers: $15.11MM
Tennessee Titans: $14.72MM
Arizona Cardinals: $11.38MM
Indianapolis Colts: $10.1MM
Seattle Seahawks: $8.42MM
Pittsburgh Steelers: $6.83MM
Philadelphia Eagles: $6.81MM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $6.63MM
Atlanta Falcons: $6.07MM
Minnesota Vikings: $5.94MM
Cincinnati Bengals: $5.94MM
Chicago Bears: $5.08MM
Los Angeles Chargers: $4.89MM
Houston Texans: $4.81MM
Kansas City Chiefs: $3.15MM
Miami Dolphins: $3MM
New Orleans Saints: $2.93MM
Los Angeles Rams: $2.75MM
Baltimore Ravens: $2.14MM
Denver Broncos: $1.91MM
Buffalo Bills: $1.34MM
New York Giants: $1.17MM
Carolina Panthers: $490K
New York Jets: $346K

Coaching Rumors: Brady, Browns, Bears

January 11th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Head coach and general manager interviews are underway, and the Raiders are looking to hire both. Already looking to hire a new head coach after firing Antonio Pierce, the Raiders made the move to fire general manager Tom Telesco, as well, at the alleged behest of part-owner Tom Brady. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, that may not be the only influence Brady has brought to the equation.

Initially, reports were that Brady preferred to start clean with a general manager who would work in tandem with a new head coach, resulting in the termination of Telesco. Now, Brady’s effect on the team continues as his influence seems to be bringing in candidates that they otherwise wouldn’t typically land

Russini notes that coaches like Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who has notoriously been picky over his potential jobs, are showing interest in Las Vegas perhaps because of Brady’s influence. We’ll see if that influence continues into the search for a new general manager, as well. The presence of the future Hall of Famer seems to be making Las Vegas a premier destination.

Here are a few other coaching updates around the NFL:

The Browns will see assistant wide receivers coach Callie Brownson depart this offseason, per Browns staff writer Kelsey Russo. Brownson will not be remaining in the NFL as she plans to take a job as the senior director of high performance & national team operations for Team USA Football. She’ll be responsible for multiple administrative aspects of both the Men’s and Women’s National Teams for the United States when flag football makes its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.
The Bears are losing an assistant, as well, this one in the front office. Salary cap analyst and pro scout J.J. Cosh will leave Chicago to accept a position as executive associate administrative director over player management at Georgia Tech. Cosh has been with the Bears for six years, joining the team in 2018 as a scouting analyst. He’ll return to the college ranks after coming to the NFL following an introduction to football at Notre Dame.
Like Brownson and Cosh, Seahawks defensive assistant Nick Perry will be departing for the college coaching ranks, as well. A former undrafted safety out of Alabama, Perry eventually returned to Tuscaloosa as a graduate student and defensive analyst. In 2021, Perry was hired as assistant defensive backs coach for the Falcons, holding the position for two years before switching sides and serving as assistant wide receivers coach. This past season, he made the move to Seattle, working as a defensive assistant under first year head coach Mike Macdonald. Now, Matt Zentiz of 247Sports reports that Perry has earned his first full position coaching gig as defensive backs coach at Arkansas.

Seahawks Request OC Interview With Saints’ Klint Kubiak

January 9th, 2025 at 9:15pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks quickly kicked off their search for a new offensive coordinator, as the team has already set up interviews with Thomas Brown and Hank Fraley. We’ve got another candidate for the job, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Seahawks have requested permission to interview Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the same role.

Kubiak joined New Orleans’ staff last offseason and had to endure a season where the Saints turned to three different starting QBs. Derek Carr went 5-5 as a starter and tossed 15 touchdowns vs. five interceptions, but the team was otherwise winless with Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener under center. Further, Alvin Kamara was the only player to top 600 yards from scrimmage (the RB finished with 1,493). Still, the Saints offense was more middle-of-the-road than bottom-of-the-pack, solidifying Kubiak’s place as one of the more intriguing offensive minds in the game. Fowler notes that beyond Seattle, Kubiak could be an option for the Browns offensive coordinator vacancy.

The son of Gary Kubiak, Klint got his NFL coaching start working under his father in Denver. When Gary was named assistant head coach in Minnesota, Klint caught on as the team’s QBs coach, and he succeeded his dad as offensive coordinator in 2021. The Vikings cleared house following Mike Zimmer‘s firing, and Klint landed back in Denver, where he spent a year as the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach. Following that one-year stop, he worked as Kyle Shanahan‘s passing game coordinator in San Francisco.

While this would represent a lateral move for Kubiak, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald believes the Seattle gig is plenty enticing. Macdonald recently touted the opening, highlighting the team’s list of young offensive players. While the organization doesn’t currently have a long-term plan at QB, they’re positioned to bring back a steady veteran in Geno Smith.

The Seahawks made Ryan Grubb a one-and-done OC, with the team’s drop in rushing efficiency reportedly playing a role in his demise. After poaching Grubb from Alabama’s staff, it’s been thought that Macdonald may pivot to a more experienced option to help guide the offense in 2025.

Darrell Bevell, Tommy Rees To Interview For Browns’ OC Job

January 9th, 2025 at 2:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Firing their offensive coordinator in back-to-back years, the Browns no longer seem committed to finding someone that will coax a Deshaun Watson bounce-back effort. The embattled quarterback has seen a setback in his Achilles rehab, and Browns brass had already stopped short of confirming the high-priced passer would start again.

With the prospect of a first-round quarterback firmly in play, the Browns are moving on their OC search. They have tight ends coach Tommy Rees in line to interview for Ken Dorsey‘s old job, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports. Rees is expected to draw interest elsewhere, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, so the Browns will need to weigh outside interest with Rees’ qualifications to move up internally.

Two assistants bringing more experience will join Rees in interviewing for the position. Veteran Darrell Bevell will meet about the job, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The former Seahawks OC is currently the Dolphins’ pass-game coordinator. Current Seahawks QBs coach Charles London will also meet with the Browns, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Bevell will interview today, Cabot adds.

Rees also came up previously as someone who could follow Mike Vrabel, but Josh McDaniels — who has an extensive history with the HC candidate dating back to his linebacker days — is also in play there. Rees has more experience at the college level, having been the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Alabama. Rees, 32, landed the Fighting Irish gig at just 27. He would be the youngest active NFL OC if promoted. The ex-Nick Saban assistant joined the Browns’ staff last year.

Bevell, 55, has been in the NFL since 2000 and has held OC gigs with four teams (Vikings, Seahawks, Lions, Jaguars). At the controls when the Seahawks emerged as the NFL’s top team early in Russell Wilson‘s career, Bevell spent seven seasons as the play-caller under Pete Carroll. He later served as interim HC for both the Lions and Jaguars. Bevell has been at the helm under Mike McDaniel since 2022. With Tua Tagovailoa taking a substantial leap in that span, Bevell is again drawing interest.

London, 49, has also been a regular on the OC interview circuit in recent years. He met about the Titans and Commanders’ jobs in 2023, but no interviews took place last year. The Rams and Dolphins met with London in 2022. London has coached QBs with the Falcons, Titans and Seahawks since 2021.

Additionally, the Browns hired a new offensive line coach. Mike Bloomgren will come from the college ranks to take over for Andy Dickerson, whom the team fired along with Dorsey. Bloomgren, who spent the past seven seasons as Rice’s head coach, has been in the college game since 2011. He worked under David Shaw at Stanford for seven years. In the four years prior to that, however, Bloomgren was a Jets assistant. He did not rise beyond the quality control level at that point.

Titans Request GM Interviews With Matt Berry, Ian Cunningham

January 9th, 2025 at 1:53pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Titans are adding two more candidates to their search for a new general manager, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones: Seahawks senior director of player personnel Matt Berry and Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham.

Berry has been with the Seahawks since 2008, advancing through the scouting ranks before reaching his current position. The Seahawks have been one of the most consistent successful teams in the draft over the last 15 years, with especially strong classes in the last few years.

Cunningham interviewed with the Titans during their last GM search in 2023 after his first year as under Ryan Poles in Chicago. Cunningham has a strong pedigree with more than a decade of front office experience between the Ravens and the Eagles, who consistently drafted well and made the playoffs in his tenure. After Cunningham did not beat out Adam Peters for the Commanders’ GM job last year, the Bears awarded him an extension. Cunningham was believed to have been offered the Cardinals’ GM job in 2023; he turned it down.

The fourth-year Bears exec also has a relationship with Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker, who is leading the team’s GM hiring process, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. With three seasons as assistant GM under his belt, Cunningham could be a finalist for the gig in Tennessee this time around.

The Bears are holding Cunningham out of their head coaching interviews as he seeks a GM job with another team, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. The team is open to including Cunningham in the process once it is confirmed he is staying in Chicago, however.

The interview requests bring the Titans’ search to nine candidates:

Matt Berry, senior director of player personnel (Seahawks): Interview requested
Mike Borgonzi, assistant general manager (Chiefs): Interview requested
Ian Cunningham, assistant general manager (Bears): Interview requested
Thomas Dimitroff, former general manager (Falcons): To interview
Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Interview requested
Terrance Gray, vice president of player personnel (Bills): Interview requested
Catherine Hickman, assistant general manager (Browns): Interview requested
Reggie McKenzie, senior personnel executive (Dolphins): Interview requested
John Spytek, assistant general manager (Buccaneers): Interview requested

Seahawks To Meet With Thomas Brown, Hank Fraley For OC Job

January 9th, 2025 at 10:29am CST by Sam Robinson

A year ago, the Seahawks gave Shane Waldron permission to pursue other jobs. This led to Waldron beating out Thomas Brown for the Bears’ OC job. But Brown was left standing by season’s end, moving up two rungs on the ladder after Waldron’s OC ouster.

With the Bears likely moving away from their interim HC, Brown is now in play for the Seahawks’ job. The two-time OC will interview for the Seahawks’ play-calling post, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Hank Fraley, the Lions’ offensive line coach, will as well, per Pelissero.

The Seahawks moved on from Ryan Grubb after one year. Mike Macdonald had gone off the board with Grubb, who had been set to become Alabama’s OC, but backtracked quickly. The Seattle HC has labeled this a prime job, citing the team’s young talent. The Seahawks are also tentatively expected to bring back Geno Smith for a fourth season as the starting QB, though the team’s long-term plan at the game’s premier position is unsettled. Smith is going into a contract year.

Fraley’s interview is on tap for Friday, and he should have some momentum. Although O-line coaches do not make a habit of climbs to OC roles, Fraley is coaching what has been one of the NFL’s best position groups for a while. He has overseen Detroit’s O-line since 2020, guiding the likes of Penei Sewell and Frank Ragnow to Pro Bowls and helping Graham Glasgow rebound from an inconsistent Broncos tenure to reclaim his place as a starter. Fraley’s unit has been a primary driver of Jared Goff‘s resurgence. A former NFL O-lineman, Fraley has been in Detroit since the 2018 season, beginning as assistant O-line coach before being elevated.

As this is Fraley’s first OC interview, Brown has been on the circuit for a bit — to the point he has received HC meetings. The Panthers hired Brown as their OC in 2023, and he finished out a woeful season as the team’s OC. Amid a collapse that initially stemmed from a defensive gaffe in Washington, the Bears won just one of their final 11 games. Although this can partially be pinned on Brown after he replaced Matt Eberflus, the team acknowledges the tough spot its interim HC/play-caller handled. The Bears began the season with Brown as their pass-game coordinator, but Waldron’s firing led to two bumps during a 5-12 season.

Brown, 38, and Macdonald were both on the Georgia staff in 2011, as ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson notes. Brown will meet with the Seahawks on Saturday, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. A Bears separation would mean a fourth team in four years for Brown, who jumped from Los Angeles to Charlotte to Chicago from 2022-24.

Considering he is a long shot to be retained in Chicago, this Seattle meeting will be pivotal for the former Sean McVay assistant’s path. Brown’s past with Waldron — in both Los Angeles and Chicago — is rather interesting as well, as it could mean a return to a familiar scheme for Smith.

Coaching Rumors: Seahawks, Vrabel, Getsy, Saints, Slowik, Harbaugh

January 8th, 2025 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks are not set to clean house on offense, but they are not considering anyone from Ryan Grubb‘s staff to be their next OC after making Grubb an one-and-done. Mike Macdonald confirmed as much (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta), while praising the team’s young core in hyping up the job. Although the Seahawks are only preparing to look outside the organization for help, Macdonald added (via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson) play-calling experience will not be required. This is not too uncommon, as teams regularly hire quarterbacks coaches or pass-game coordinators to be OCs. Those roles generally do not feature play-calling duties. The team has already put in interview requests, per Macdonald, though no names have surfaced yet. Additionally, Macdonald said (via Condotta) the new hire, as could be expected, will not be forced to retain all of Grubb’s staff. More changes should be expected.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

Mike Vrabel looks to have a much better chance of landing a job this year compared to 2024, though he did interview with a few teams following his surprising Titans ouster. One of those meetings came with the Panthers, who were coming off a 2-15 season. As Vrabel did not view himself as a strong candidate to land the Falcons’ job, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt notes that the then-recently fired coach was not interested in the Carolina position (subscription required). David Tepper‘s presence had hurt the perception of the Panthers’ job at that point, as the owner had been accused of meddling in personnel matters — during a second straight season in which he fired a head coach — before throwing a drink on a fan during a late-season game in 2023. Dave Canales took over and is set to begin a second offseason in charge, while Vrabel is viewed as the Patriots’ lead candidate.
The Saints do not have as many HC candidates compared to the Bears and Jets, but they do not appear interested in expanding right now. Aaron Glenn, Kellen Moore, Joe Brady, Anthony Weaver, Darren Rizzi, Mike Kafka and Vrabel comprise New Orleans’ current list, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler views this as the full group for the foreseeable future.
Bobby Slowik appeared on interview lists last year, but the Texans OC’s second season has not gone as well. Only one team, the Jets, has contacted Slowik about an HC interview this year. As the Texans prepare for their playoff matchup with the Chargers, SI.com’s Albert Breer does not tab Slowik as automatic to return for a third season. The former 49ers assistant, after a C.J. Stroud sophomore slump, will likely need to present a plan to DeMeco Ryans to keep the gig — even after the team extended its play-caller last January. That deal came with a significant raise, but Houston’s offense dropped from 12th to 22nd in yardage and 13th to 19th in points.
Weeks after Robert Saleh resurfaced with longtime friend Matt LaFleur‘s Packers, the NFC North team rehired one of its former assistants for a similar role. After being canned as Raiders OC, Luke Getsy is helping out the Packers as an advisor, per the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley. Getsy had been working remotely for a few weeks. While Saleh has helped Green Bay’s offense with preparation, Getsy — a former Packers QBs coach before his two OC stints elsewhere — had been helping the defense.
Jim Harbaugh signed a five-year deal worth $16MM per season last January, and his latest quick-turnaround effort brought additional compensation. The first-year Chargers HC collected a $1MM bonus for guiding the team to the playoffs, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes.

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