Personally, I always love seeing former NFL players begin their coaching careers. It is completing the cycle, so to speak. As they were once the students, they now become the masters. Such is the case for former Seattle Seahawks guard Mike Iupati, who will be taking his knowledge to the Palouse.
Iupati has joined the Washington State Cougars’ staff to become their assistant offensive line coach. He will join first-year head coach Jimmy Rodgers, as they will seek to help the Cougars improve upon their 8-5 record from last year.
Welcome to the Palouse, Mike Iupati ‼️ pic.twitter.com/kv57O5GLSm
— Washington State Football (@WSUCougarFB) January 31, 2025
Iupati was a career-NFC West man. He was originally selected in the first round out of Idaho by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2010 NFL draft and spent the first the first five years of his career in the Bay Area. From there, he traveled to the Valley of the Sun to play with the Cardinals from 2015-2018, before ultimately ending his career with the Seahawks.
Iupati was a solid acquisition on Seattle’s offensive line, and in the two seasons he was with Seattle (2019 and 2020) the Seahawks made the playoffs twice, earned a division title, and won a playoff game. In fact, Iupati was a member of the last Seattle team that claimed a postseason victory.
Now he has returned to the northwest, albeit on the inland side of the state. We at Seahawks Wire wish him all the best with his new job in the Palouse.
