Success is always great for any sports team, but it means that some members of the team could be coveted by others.
It appears that is happening with the Seattle Seahawks.
While Mike Macdonald’s defense gets most of the publicity for the 10-3 Seahawks, the offense has been great as well. The leader of that offense is offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Could Kubiak be the next hotshot offensive coach in the NFL? ESPN sees him as a potential candidate in the next hiring cycle.
Klint Kubiak Listed as an NFL Coaching Candidate
There is a decent chance the Seahawks will have to look for another offensive coordinator this offseason.
Current Seattle OC Klint Kubiak appears to be drawing interest from other NFL teams as a head coaching candidate. Or if he is not actually linked to any NFL jobs, some in the media see him as a target in the 2026 head coach hiring cycle.
ESPN.com NFL reporter Dan Graziano ranked nine current NFL coordinators as potential candidates for coaching openings. He also listed Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski as a potential candidate if he were to get fired.
Graziano listed Kubiak as the eighth-best potential hire. Here is what he wrote about Kubiak:
“He has flourished in Seattle, and in a year when the offensive coordinator pool might not be perceived as quite as deep as past years, it sounds like he’s a guy teams will want to talk to this winter,” Graziano wrote on Dec. 12.
Klint Kubiak was the third offensive coordinator listed, behind Kansas City Chiefs OC Matt Nagy and Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady. If those two are not considered the right fit for a team looking for an offensive head coach, then Kubiak’s stock could rise.
It makes sense that Kubiak is getting this recognition. The Seahawks are scoring 29.8 points per game this season, which ranks second in the NFL. That number shows how productive Seattle’s offense has been, even if some defensive scores have boosted the team’s scoring average.
Additionally, Graziano also mentioned that Kubiak’s offensive success early in the 2024 season with the New Orleans Saints could aid his resume. Injuries weakened New Orleans’ offensive production, but Kubiak’s time with the Saints could eventually help him get a head coaching job.
Getting the Best Out of Darnold and Smith-Njigba
When Sam Darnold is having the best season of his career and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is the favorite to win NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, the offensive coordinator is doing his job well.
And Seattle is getting the production out of those two whilst being the most run-heavy team in the NFL. That shows that Kubiak has a clear offensive identity, and that he draws up great passing plays to take advantage of run-stopping defensive looks.
While Kubiak is only 38 years old, his wealth of experience is showing up for the Seahawks this year. He has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and learned under Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
All in all, it makes sense why Klint Kubiak could be a hot head coaching candidate this offseason.
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