The Seattle Seahawks are now several weeks into the search for their next offensive coordinator. Head coach Mike Macdonald has identified three finalists, a list consisting of Minnesota Vikings assistant Grant Udinski, former Chicago Bears interim coach Thomas Brown, and Detroit Lions assistant Hank Fraley. Other rumors have the Seahawks potentially naming two coordinators who would focus on different areas of the offense.
The most surprising candidate on the list is arguably Udinski. A 29-year-old former college tight end, Udinski is an out-of-left-field candidate who makes sense. His work alongside offensive genius Kevin O’Connell and Sam Darnold this season has seen him rise up the ranks.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer recently released a column on the coaching carousel. Breer offered some terrific insight into Udinski. It’s no wonder the Seahawks possess interest in the potential coaching prophet.
“I’ve done some digging on Udinski over the past few days, and he’s a really interesting guy to look at,” Breer wrote. “He’s been in an intense football environment with Kevin O’Connell, Wes Phillips and Josh McCown on the offensive side of that staff, and has proven a quick study in just about every way. Since O’Connell poached him from Matt Rhule’s staff in 2022 (on the advice of Minnesota assistant Brian Angelichio), he’s risen from assistant to the head coach/special projects to assistant QBs coach to assistant offensive coordinator.
.@AlbertBreer’s mailbag:
🏈 Who will coach the Raiders?
🏈 Why Shad Kahn can’t get it right in Jacksonville
🏈 How Lions replace staff losses
🏈 What’s next for Sam Darnold
🏈 Ravens’ playoff struggles
🏈 Morehttps://t.co/PfQ1rhdIPH— The MMQB (@theMMQB) January 23, 2025
Breer brings up outstanding points about Udinski’s environment and elevation up the ranks. Wes Phillips and Josh McCown are two additional offensive minds Udinski has learned under. McCown has routinely gotten head coaching/OC interest around the league.
“He kept getting title changes, and raises, to keep him from leaving, and that’s because he’s really become O’Connell’s right-hand man,” Breer continued. “He’s got, by all accounts, an incredible mind for the game, and a bright, bright future as a play-caller and, maybe eventually, as a head coach.”
Breer also has questions about Udinski’s readiness to be an OC and lead Seattle’s offensive staff.
“But it’s fair to have questions about how fast this is all moving,” Breer added. “McVay had six years coaching—five in the NFL—before he became a coordinator, and he waited another year after that before becoming a play-caller. Udinski just finished his sixth-year coaching, and fifth in the NFL, so becoming a play-calling offensive coordinator would put him on a McVay-Shanahan track.”
The Seahawks have to assess all of the pros and cons before making a decision at offensive coordinator.
