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Klint Kubiak

John Harbaugh Didn’t Lose Locker Room?

By | at January 7, 2026 11:13 pm

In an appearance today on The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter pushed back on one of the narratives that gained traction in the wake of John Harbaugh‘s dismissal in Baltimore. As McAfee suggested the insiders had seen this coming, Schefter voiced his dissent to the notion Harbaugh had lost the locker room.

“I don’t think that information right there could be any…less true,” Schefter exclaimed. “The players were coming to his office, crying, hugging him, sending him ‘goodbyes,’ calling him one by one. If they felt that way, why are Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely and all these players coming in crying, hugging him, giving him these long, warm goodbyes. I’m not buying it.”

[RELATED: Assessing Lamar Jackson’s Role In Ravens’ Coaching Decision]

As the interview continued, McAfee appealed to one of his frequent guests, former NFL center A.Q. Shipley to back up what Schefter was claiming. Shipley, who played for Harbaugh and the Ravens back in 2013, the second season of his eight-year career, called Harbaugh his favorite coach, after which Schefter chimed in to say that “that would be consistent with the type of things” that he had heard from other players. Shipley pointed to instances in which Harbaugh had his players’ backs and spoke to the respect that those moments garnered within Shipley and his teammates.

As McAfee went on to question why the departure would occur, if that were the case, Schefter mused on the concept that, sometimes, it’s just time for a change. He pointed to the Broncos as a two-time example of this fact, first utilizing the example of Dan Reeves. Reeves coached Denver for the first 12 years of his coaching career, amassed a 110-73-1 record, made the playoffs six times, won the division five times, advanced to the AFC Championship four times, and advanced to three Super Bowls but lost all three. Then-owner Pat Bowlen opted to part ways with Reeves and promoted Wade Phillips. Though, two years later Bowlen circled back to Mike Shanahan, who would win back-to-back Super Bowls shortly after, the first championships in franchise history.

Later on, in Denver, John Fox stepped in as head coach, and in a short, four-year stint went 46-18, winning the AFC West every season but losing his only Super Bowl appearance in 2013. Once again, the Broncos decided to move on from success, and Gary Kubiak won them their third Super Bowl the next year. Harbaugh had so much success up front, winning nine playoff games in his first five years, but as the franchise concluded his 18th season seeing only four more playoff wins in the 13 years since their Super Bowl victory, it’s clear there was a similar feeling with owner Steve Bisciotti.

It’s not all gloom for Harbaugh, though, as Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports reports that nine suitors have already emerged for Harbaugh; there are only seven open jobs in the NFL right now, including Baltimore. That means three teams with head coaches in place already have kicked the tires to inquire about his possible interest. The Dolphins are one such team, per Vacchiano, though Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald pushes back on that notion, “citing people on both sides.” And, though the other teams remain unnamed, Vacchiano also mentions “a big push” that could come from a team “playing this weekend in the wild-card playoff round.”

Harbaugh has most notably been made the No. 1 target for the Giants. They’ve made it no small secret that they are interested in hiring him, and according to Vacchiano, “they are high on Harbaugh’s list,” too. A source from the team claimed, “They have no reason to believe that Harbaugh is not seeking excessive power in the organization or that he feels he wouldn’t be able to work with (general manager Joe Schoen).” And, though Harbaugh has yet to set a meeting with the team, NFL insider Gary Myers backs Vacchiano’s report up, saying himself that Harbaugh “has genuine interest” in the job in New York. In fact, Harbaugh hasn’t made meetings yet with any teams, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the 63-year-old free agent is not expected to take part in any interviews until next week.

In Baltimore, though, the Ravens have hit the ground running in search of only the fourth head coach in franchise history. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are both names that have come to the forefront early, but according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is a name to watch out for as the hiring process picks up. Kubiak is the only one of the three not to have already worked in Baltimore or coached on the defensive side of the ball. Weaver was assistant head coach/defensive line coach for the Ravens not long ago, while Minter worked with the team’s defensive backs from 2017-20.

What’s interesting is that all three candidates have zero head coaching experience. That’s obviously not something that scares off the Ravens, though, considering Harbaugh’s 18 years for the team were his first in a head coaching role. What’s more important, it seems, is the potential that Weaver or Minter could be able to reestablish the defensive identity that made Baltimore such a feared opponent in Harbaugh’s early years, or the idea that an offensive-minded candidate like Kubiak may be just what Lamar Jackson needs to deliver the franchise’s third Super Bowl, one that Jackson promised the day they took him as the last pick in the first round.

22 comments Baltimore Ravens Miami Dolphins New York Giants

2026 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

By | at January 7, 2026 9:50 pm

The Browns, Cardinals, Falcons and Raiders followed the Giants and Titans in firing head coaches, making those calls between the Week 18 conclusion and Black Monday. The Ravens then moved on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons; two days later, the Dolphins canned Mike McDaniel. Following a wild-card loss, the Steelers and Mike Tomlin are separating after 19 years. Now, after an overtime divisional-round loss in Denver, Sean McDermott is out in Buffalo.

The 10 HC openings are tied with 1978, 1997, 2006 and 2022 for the most in one year. Here are the candidates connected to all those searches. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 2-1-26 (4:00pm CT)

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

12 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New York Giants PFR Originals Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans

Ravens Request HC Interview With Anthony Weaver, Klint Kubiak

By | at January 7, 2026 2:45 pm

The Ravens have begun their search to replace longtime head coach John Harbaugh.

Baltimore’s first two interview requests have gone to Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Weaver, 45, is a former Ravens player and coach. He was drafted by then-general manager Ozzie Newsome in the second round of the 2022 draft and started for his entire time in Baltimore. He then spent three years in Houston before retiring and joining the coaching ranks, first at the college level before jumping to the NFL with the Jets. He then served as a defensive line coach for the, Bills, Browns, and Texans before a stint as interim defensive coordinator in Houston after Bill O’Brien was fired in 2020.

Weaver went back to Baltimore in 2021, this time as a coach with a dual DL coach/defensive run game coordinator role. In 2022, he added associate head coach to his title. The Ravens were consistently one of the league’s top run-stopping defenses under Weaver, and his unit was a huge factor in the team’s success under Mike Macdonald in 2022 and 2023.

Weaver interviewed for the Ravens’ DC job when Macdonald left for Seattle, but it went to Zach Orr instead. Weaver was then hired by Mike McDaniel to replace Vic Fangio in Miami. The Dolphins defense improved from 22nd in points and 10th in yards in 2023 to 10th and fourth, respectively, in 2024. The unit regressed to bottom-10 numbers this past season, though Weaver was not helped by general manager Chris Grier. He virtually ignored the defense in the offseason, leaving his DC especially weak at cornerback and defensive tackle.

Weaver would return to Baltimore armed with two years of play-calling. experience and a few connections to potential offensive coordinators. Ex-Texans OC Bobby Slowik spent the 2025 season in Miami, and it is not out of the realm of possibility that Dolphins owner and Michigan alum Stephen Ross consideres replacing McDaniel with Harbaugh. That could make McDaniel an option to come with Weaver to Baltimore as OC, though he himself may garner head coaching consideration, too.

Kubiak, 38, is arguably the hottest offensive head coach candidate this hiring cycle, which is far stronger in defensive-minded coaches. He has been with five different teams in the last five years, which is a potential red flag, but it also gives him a number of connections around the league. He has also spent time under Kyle Shanahan and Mike Zimmer, two other experienced, well-respected coaches that add to Kubiak’s pedigree. That could help him build a strong staff – for example, bringing Seahawks DC Aden Durde to Baltimore. He also has play-calling experience for multiple offenses and could likely adapt his system to Lamar Jackson’s skillset.

Obviously, Kubiak’s last name is relevant to the Ravens, who employed his father, Gary Kubiak, as their offensive coordinator in 2014. Kubiak departed the next season for Denver, but he is still fondly remembered in Baltimore.

4 comments Baltimore Ravens Miami Dolphins Seattle Seahawks

Klint Kubiak Receives HC Interview Requests From Giants, Cardinals, Raiders

By | at January 6, 2026 4:18 pm

To little surprise, Klint Kubiak is a popular early candidate for head coaching opportunities. The Seahawks OC has received plenty of interest from teams with a HC vacancy.

Kubiak was already known to have received an interview request from the Falcons. He is also expected to be a target for the Titans regarding their opening. In addition, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports the Giants, Cardinals and Raiders have submitted an interview slip. This marks the first offseason in which Kubiak has received an HC interview request. Giants rumors had emerged before the regular season’s conclusion.

Seattle clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed and with it a bye during the wild-card round. As a result, NFL rules permit Kubiak to interview virtually with interested teams this week. All interviews he conducts must take place before the opening round of the playoffs wraps up. Per Breer, Kubiak is currently in the midst of planning his schedule with his focus still mainly on the Seahawks.

Kubiak has worked as an offensive coordinator with three different teams (Vikings in 2021, Saints in 2024 and Seahawks this season). The 38-year-old has not lasted beyond one season in any of those roles, though the Seahawks certainly would be interested in retaining him for the 2026 season. The Vikings fired Mike Zimmer after the 2021 campaign, and the Saints dismissed Dennis Allen midway through the ’24 season. That led to new offensive play-callers arriving and Kubiak heading elsewhere.

The second-generation play-caller coached the Broncos’ quarterbacks during an eventful 2022 season in Denver; Nathaniel Hackett went around OC Justin Outten to give Kubiak play-calling duties as the season spiraled. Hackett then worked as the pass-game coordinator under Kyle Shanahan in 2023, helping Brock Purdy to a Pro Bowl season as the 49ers soared to Super Bowl LVIII. The Seahawks reunited Kubiak with Sam Darnold this past offseason, with the assistant’s presence a draw for the QB, and the Seahawks have booked the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time in 11 years.

Seattle ranks third in scoring offense and eighth in yardage, and Darnold has delivered on his free agent contract. The Seahawks have seen some second-half inconsistency from their starter, but he has done enough to keep the offense afloat en route to a 14-3 record. Jaxon Smith-Njigba also smashed a Seahawks single-season record by tallying an NFL-leading 1,793 yards. With this coaching crop heavier on the defensive side, Kubiak was bound to receive requests. The Seahawks, who fired Ryan Grubb after one season, could face the prospect of replacing their OC for a third straight year.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

3 comments Arizona Cardinals Las Vegas Raiders New York Giants Seattle Seahawks

Mike McCoy To Interview For Titans’ HC Job; Team Not Planning Dennard Wilson Meeting

By | at January 6, 2026 1:35 pm

As we’ve attempted to cover in this space for a while, interim coaches face a steep battle toward actually landing the full-time job. Antonio Pierce is the only interim leader over the past nine offseasons to be elevated to full-time status, and the Raiders fired him a year later.

The Titans were the first team to fire a coach this season, beating the Giants to the punch. They turned to Mike McCoy as their interim boss. The two-time NFL HC will have a chance to interview for the full-time position, according to veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky.

McCoy, 53, went 2-9 as the interim coach this season. This came after his four-year Chargers HC run produced a 27-37 mark and one playoff berth. The Titans finished 30th in scoring offense and 31st in yardage. Although Cam Ward showed flashes down the stretch, the No. 1 overall pick finished his rookie season with an NFL-low QBR number.

Tennessee hired McCoy last year, bringing him aboard as a senior offensive assistant under Brian Callahan. Interim leaders were hired at a greater rate in previous NFL periods; the Titans are an example of a team that has shown great interest in such continuity. The team elevated Mike Mularkey from interim leader to full-time HC in 2015. As the Oilers, the franchise removed Jeff Fisher‘s interim tag in 1995. Jerry Glanville started as an Oilers interim HC before being elevated to full-time status in 1986. That said, McCoy is highly unlikely to land this job.

McCoy, however, will at least have the opportunity to interview. DC Dennard Wilson is believed to have pushed for an interview, Kuharsky adds, but the team will not provide that chance. ST coordinator John Fassel is pushing for an interview as well, per Kuharsky. Callahan hired Wilson in 2024, after he had lost out on the Eagles’ DC job, and brought in Fassel in 2025. The Titans ranked 28th in points allowed this season, finishing 21st in total defense. Wilson did have the NFL’s No. 2 total defense in 2024, but his unit ranked 30th in scoring.

Several established candidates are on Tennessee’s docket, however. Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Rams DC Chris Shula, 49ers DC Robert Saleh and Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile are among others who are expected to interview, per Kuharsky. Here is how their Mike Borgonzi-led search process looks as of Tuesday afternoon:

1 comment Tennessee Titans

Falcons Request HC Interviews With Klint Kubiak, Anthony Weaver

By | at January 5, 2026 2:30 pm

An eighth straight season without a playoff berth led to a major organizational shakeup for the Falcons, who fired general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday. The Falcons’ former franchise quarterback, Matt Ryan, is expected to take over as president of football operations.

Although Ryan hasn’t officially rejoined the organization yet, Atlanta – with the help of search firm ZRG Partners – is acting quickly to find a new head coach. The team has requested interviews with Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

This head coaching market doesn’t feature many slam-dunk offensive-minded candidates, but the 38-year-old Kubiak has made a case for a promotion this season. Thanks in part to the Seahawks’ Kubiak-led offense, which finished the regular season third in scoring and tied for seventh in yardage, the team went 14-3 and earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

With Kubiak’s help, quarterback Sam Darnold put together a second straight strong season in 2025 – his first with the Seahawks after reviving his career with the Vikings in 2024. Darnold’s favorite target, wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, led the league with 1,793 yards.

Kubiak’s presence helped draw Darnold to the Seahawks on a three-year, $100.5MM contract last March. It’s possible the success the two have had since then will lead to a first head coaching job for Kubiak. Moving on from Seattle would mean a third straight one-and-done stint as an offensive coordinator for Kubiak, the son of former Texans and Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak.

Klint Kubiak’s first OC opportunity came with the Vikings in 2021, when he succeeded his retired father in the role. With productive efforts from Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, the unit finished with above-average rankings in yards (12th) and points (14th). However, the Vikings then made a head coaching change in replacing Mike Zimmer with Kevin O’Connell, and Kubiak did not return in 2022.

After leaving Minnesota, Kubiak divided the next two seasons between Denver and San Francisco. His year as Russell Wilson‘s quarterbacks coach went poorly, but Kubiak boosted his stock as Kyle Shanahan‘s passing game coordinator in 2023. He first worked with Darnold, then a backup to Brock Purdy, that year. It was the first full season as a starter for Purdy, who fared well with Kubiak and helped the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl.

Kubiak’s performance with the 49ers led to his second shot as an offensive coordinator with the Saints last year. In what proved to be quarterback Derek Carr‘s final season, an injury-limited campaign in which he played 10 games, the Saints’ offense wound up 21st in yards and 24th in points. With New Orleans in the midst of a coaching search last January, Kubiak left for Seattle – a move that has gone swimmingly for both sides.

Weaver, 45, was a defensive lineman for the Ravens and Texans from 2002-08. After coaching D-lines with the Jets, Bills, Browns and Texans from 2012-19, he took over as Houston’s D-coordinator under Bill O’Brien in 2020. O’Brien did not last the full season, though, and after the Texans’ defense finished 27th in yards and 30th in points, Weaver didn’t retain his post for a second year.

Following his Houston exit, Weaver had a three-year run as a D-line coach on John Harbaugh‘s staff in Baltimore. He impressed enough with the Ravens to grab the reins as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator in 2024. While the Dolphins ranked fourth in total defense and 10th in points under Weaver last year, they fell to 22nd and 24th in those categories this season. Nevertheless, Weaver will be part of the head coaching interview cycle for the second straight offseason. He met with the Bears and Saints last winter.

3 comments Atlanta Falcons Miami Dolphins Seattle Seahawks

Mike McCarthy, Antonio Pierce Among Giants’ HC Candidates

By | at January 2, 2026 11:51 am

The Giants’ head-coaching search informally started immediately after firing Brian Daboll, but recent discussions have created an initial list of candidates to interview, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson.

Several coaches are already known to be on the Giants’ radar, including Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman, Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Colts DC Lou Anarumo, Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, and Browns HC Kevin Stefanski. Giants interm HC Mike Kafka is also expected to interview with the team after auditioning for the full-time job since Daboll’s removal.

Interview requests will be much stronger indications of the Giants’ interest. Their lengthy list of candidates is primarily focused on former head coaches and current coordinator, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

The formal interview process has technically already begun, as candidates not employed by an NFL team can interview right away. Former Packers and Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy and and former Raiders HC Antonio Pierce are on the Giants’ list. Pierce, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, played in New York for five seasons and earned a Pro Bowl nod and a Super Bowl ring in the process. That connection to the franchise – as with Jets HC Aaron Glenn – could give Pierce a leg up in the Giant’s hiring process, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

For coaches currently working for an NFL team, interview requests must wait until the regular season ends. The Giants’ interest seems to be focused on defensive coordinators, as Hafley (Packers), Vance Joseph (Broncos), Chris Shula (Rams), and Jesse Minter (Chargers) are all expected to receive interview requests. Hafley, a New Jersey native, in particular “seems to have some traction in New York,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Any coach for a non-playoff team can be interviewed as soon as Week 18 concludes. If the Broncos secure a first-round bye, Joseph (and any other coaches employed by a team with a bye) can only be virtually interviewed until the end of the wild card round. Coaches without a bye can be interviewed until the end of the divisional round. After the divisional round, teams can begin in-person interviews with coaches for teams eliminated by the playoffs.

Other coaches who have an “outside chance” to be interviewed by the Giants include Texans DC Matt Burke and Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, per Raanan. Current head coaches that are fired at the end of the season, especially Stefanski, could also be considered by the Giants. They could also seek to follow the wave of hiring young offensive coordinators from the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay coaching tree such as Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown or Jaguars OC Grant Udinski.

11 comments New York Giants

Giants HC Rumors: Hafley, Freeman, OCs

By | at December 13, 2025 10:03 pm

At 2-11 and in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Giants will likely bring in a new head coach from outside the organization in the next couple of months. Interim choice Mike Kafka, who replaced the fired Brian Daboll a little over a month ago, seems like a long shot for a full-time promotion. Now coming off their bye, Kafka’s Giants have gone 0-3, including a blowout loss to the Patriots in Week 13.

General manager Joe Schoen is leading New York’s head coaching search. After hiring Daboll in 2022, he’s in line to pick his second head coach despite a 20-43-1 record as the team’s GM. Schoen doesn’t expect his presence to push away candidates, though there’s some disagreement about that around the league, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post details.

With Schoen only under contract through 2026, an NFC assistant coach told Dunleavy: “The biggest deterrent to taking that job is a lame-duck GM. If you’re signing a five-year deal to become the head coach, you’d like to know that you can develop a vision for your program with a GM that’s aligned the same way. But if the GM is in win-now mode and you need time to bring in scheme-specific talent, that will not mesh very well.”

On the other hand, a different assistant who could receive head coaching interviews told Dunleavy: “Joe’s well respected around the league. It’s not going to be a deterrent. When you look at the quarterback and the game-changers they have, it’s going to be one of the more attractive jobs.”

First-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers, left tackle Andrew Thomas, and a talented group of pass rushers are among the reasons many consider the Giants’ position enticing. That group may appeal to Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who’s the “heavy favorite” to land the job, according to Conor Orr of SI.com. The 46-year-old New Jersey native would be a first-time NFL head coach, but he did take Boston College to two bowl games from 2020-23. Green Bay’s enjoying its second straight year as one of the league’s most effective defenses under his tutelage.

Hafley went 22-26 at Boston College. One of his losses came at the hands of a Marcus Freeman-led Notre Dame squad. Freeman, who came up as a speculative Giants candidate last month, is indeed on the team’s list, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Although Notre Dame’s season ended without a playoff berth, the Fighting Irish finished 10-2. They’re 43-12 since Freeman succeeded Brian Kelly in late 2021.

Freeman is under contract through 2030 on a lucrative extension, but Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua realizes there’s outside interest in the 39-year-old.

“Everybody has eyes on Marcus,” Bevacqua said (via Adam Rittenberg of ESPN). “College has eyes on Marcus; NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus. … He’s the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop, one of the greatest college coaches in the country.”

To better its chances of keeping Freeman, Notre Dame will revise his contract on an annual basis, Bevacqua revealed. Doing so will keep Freeman among the nation’s highest-paid coaches.

Aside from Hafley, Freeman, and Colts DC Lou Anarumo (previously reported), Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak are also on the Giants’ radar, according to Russini.

Kingsbury is the only member of the quintet with previous head coaching experience in the pros. The Cardinals went 28-37-1 under him from 2019-22. Kingsbury helped quarterback Kyler Murray to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and a pair of Pro Bowls during that span. Murray hasn’t revisited that form since. Kingsbury also guided the Cardinals to an 11-6 record in 2021. That stands as their only playoff season of the past decade.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski may join Kingsbury as an experienced possibility for the Giants. The Browns aren’t expected to fire the two-time Coach of the Year, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post writes, though he contends it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Giants trade for Stefanski.

It’s unclear what the Giants would have to give up for Stefanski, who would be part of the league’s eighth head coach trade since 1997 in this scenario. The most recent deal came when the Broncos dealt a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-rounder to the Saints for Sean Payton and a 2024 third-rounder in February 2023. The Giants aren’t in position to surrender that type of compensation for Stefanski, but it appears he’s another name to keep an eye on during their high-profile search.

11 comments Cleveland Browns Green Bay Packers Indianapolis Colts New York Giants Seattle Seahawks Washington Commanders

Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak: Geno Smith Was A “Huge Draw” For Seattle Job

By | at February 23, 2025 9:58 am

Earlier this month, we heard that the Seahawks are expected to address the contract of quarterback Geno Smith in the near future (with an extension seemingly more logical than a restructure). That report came on the heels of head coach Mike Macdonald’s endorsement of a new deal for his starting signal-caller.

Even if Seattle GM John Schneider stays true to form and explores possible succession plans, we now have more indication that Smith may receive the renewed commitment he has been seeking.

During his introductory press conference, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said Smith’s presence is one of the primary reasons he took the job.

“I have a lot of respect for Geno,” Kubiak said (via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic (subscription required)). “It was a huge draw to come here and be able to get to coach him … We have high expectations for him. [We’ll] push Geno and get the best out of him, and we’ll do that by pushing his teammates as well. It’s not just his show; it’s a team thing, and he’s got to be the head of that.”

The fact that Smith will apparently be retained for 2025, the final year of his current deal, does not necessarily mean the parties will come together on a new contract. Smith is, after all, about to enter his age-35 season, and while he regularly shows plus form, he ultimately finished the 2024 campaign with a traditional quarterback rating of 93.2 that was just above average and a QBR of 53.8 that slotted between Bryce Young and Joe Flacco (numbers that were pulled down by his 15 interceptions, the second-highest figure in the league).

On the other hand, Macdonald adamantly reiterated his belief that his club can win a championship with Smith under center.

“It’s pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback,” Macdonald said. “He’s our quarterback. We love him. Can’t wait to go work with him … He’s a great player, man. We can win a championship with Geno Smith. We really believe that.”

Plus, while the typical dearth of obvious QB upgrades on the free agent market and the perceived weakness of the 2025 collegiate class of signal-callers would make Smith a quality trade chip if the ‘Hawks chose to market him, those same factors would make it difficult for Seattle – a 10-win outfit in 2024 that clearly has designs on a postseason run in the upcoming season – to immediately replace 2022’s Comeback Player of the Year. As such, a short-term deal that rewards Smith with another influx of guaranteed cash while still keeping him on a relatively team-friendly rate could make sense for both sides.

The Seahawks’ O-line was the club’s weak link last year, and improving that group – a goal that Schneider expressly acknowledged – will naturally help Smith. Kubiak also intends to implement a run-first identity, which will also take some of the pressure off of the former Jets second-rounder.

Getting talented wideout D.K. Metcalf more involved in the offense will also be critical, both for Smith and for the offense as a whole. As Dugar writes, the Ryan Grubb-coordinated offense allowed Metcalf to simply serve as a decoy too often, and according to Macdonald, every OC candidate he interviewed to replace Grubb had plans for improved Metcalf usage at the top of their list of ideas.

Metcalf is entering the final year of his current contract, and Dugar writes in another subscribers-only piece that an extension could also be in play for the two-time Pro Bowler. That would help smooth out his massive $31.88MM cap charge for 2025 while keeping the talented wideout under club control for the foreseeable future. 

5 comments Seattle Seahawks

NFC West Notes: Rams, Seahawks, Cards

By | at February 6, 2025 9:32 pm

The Rams are hiring former Ravens, Giants, and Patriots defensive assistant Drew Wilkins as their next defensive pass-game coordinator, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Wilkins started out as an intern in Baltimore in 2011 and worked his way up John Harbaugh‘s staff. When Don ‘Wink’ Martindale took over as defensive coordinator in 2018, he promoted Wilkins to outside linebackers coach. The Ravens parted ways with Martindale in 2022, and Wilkins followed his mentor to the Giants, where he continued in the same position. However, Wilkins did not follow Martindale to Michigan in 2024, instead choosing to join Jerod Mayo‘s staff in New England.

Like Martindale, Wilkins is known for his blitz packages that prioritized pressure over sacks. In his seven seasons coaching outside linebackers, only one reached double-digit sacks in a season (Kayvon Thibodeaux in 2023). The Patriots’ pass rush struggled under Wilkins in 2024, but he will have access to a more talented defensive line in Los Angeles. Wilkins will seek to get the most out of the Rams’ young, athletic quartet of Kobie Turner, Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Braden Fiske.

  • Fiske left the Rams’ divisional-round loss with a knee injury that will require surgery, per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. However, head coach Sean McVay told media that it would be a “minor procedure” that “won’t affect his ability to be ready for next year.”
  • Mike Macdonald made a few hires heading into his second year as the Seahawks‘ head coach. Andrew Janocko will join Seattle as their quarterbacks coach, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. This will be Janocko’s third stint as quarterbacks coach under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The two first coached together in Minnesota in 2021 and reunited in New Orleans last year, where they were joined by offensive line coach John Benton. Benton is also set to follow Kubiak to Seattle, according to Pelissero, where he will look to improve an offensive line that allowed 54 sacks in 2024, the third-most in the NFL.
  • Kubiak will not be bringing in his own wide receivers coach; incumbent Frisman Jackson will be retained, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. After a disappointing rookie year from 2023 first-rounder Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jackson joined the staff coached the former Ohio State star to 100 receptions and 1,130 receiving yards in 2024.
  • The Cardinals hired Cowboys assistant defensive backs coach Cristian Garcia to be their next inside linebackers coach, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Dallas was hoping to retain Garcia, but he opted to take a promotion on Jonathan Gannon‘s staff.
2 comments Arizona Cardinals Dallas Cowboys Los Angeles Rams Seattle Seahawks
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