Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald continues to go through the process of appointing a new offensive coordinator after firing Ryan Grubb earlier this offseason. Front-runner candidates include New Orleans Saints OC Klint Kubiak, and Minnesota Vikings assistant Grant Udinski, who have both received two interviewers for the job. Other candidates include former NFL quarterback Byron Leftwich, and Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley.
It’s imperative that Macdonald nails this process. Outside the obvious reasons, there’s a lingering fear Seattle’s first-year head coach must address. Defensive-minded head coaches often fail because they lack a great offensive coordinator.
Macdonald has already bundled the process once, self-admitting his error by firing Grubb after just one season. In today’s NFL, high-octane football is all the rage. It’s impossible to compete without fielding a top-notch offense.
It’s precisely why Andy Reid, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur, Nick Sirianni, and Sean Payton, among other offensive-minded coaches, are considered the best in football. Look at the AFC and NFC Championship Games. It’s true the four remaining teams are split between two offensive and two defensive head coaches, but the latter have something in common.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn nailed the process by hiring Kliff Kingsbury as his OC. Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott has Joe Brady as his offensive play-caller. Both Kingsbury and Brady are receiving head coaching interest this offseason. Meanwhile, Macdonald’s first OC was fired after a year on the job, citing philosophical differences.
Macdonald proved to be a quality head coach throughout his first campaign in charge of the Seahawks. Seattle captured 10 victories and competed for the NFC West division title. If Macdonald is going to be a truly great coach though, he needs to solve the OC conundrum defensive-minded leaders often encounter. Making the appropriate hire is of the utmost importance for Seattle’s 2025 season, but also for Macdonald’s outlook as the long-term head coach.
