Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is firmly in the head-coaching rumor mill.
In her latest column for The Athletic, NFL insider Dianna Russini listed Kubiak among the assistant coaches expected to get serious looks in the upcoming hiring cycle, adding fresh fuel to the Seahawks coaching buzz Heavy.com has already explored earlier this season.
Seahawks Assistant Lands on Russini’s List of Coaching Candidates
In the “Prove-it time for coaching candidates” section of her Week 14 column, Russini highlighted a group of assistants she’s hearing will garner real attention when owners start lining up interviews. That list includes big-name coordinators across the league — and Kubiak, who is drawing praise for his work running Seattle’s offense.
Russini noted that, as of now, only the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans have formal head-coaching vacancies. But history says the carousel is just getting started. Since 2011, at least five jobs have opened in every cycle, and league figures are already asking pointed questions about several other situations, including the Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals and Las Vegas Raiders.
In other words, there should be plenty of chairs when the music really starts — and Kubiak is now being talked about as someone who could grab one.
Russini framed the next month or so, stretching into the playoffs, as a live audition for assistants hoping to “prove they can handle the big seat.” For Kubiak, every offensive game plan Seattle rolls out down the stretch becomes both a Seahawks storyline and a personal resume entry for owners and general managers watching from afar.
What Kubiak’s Head-Coaching Buzz Means for the Seahawks
For Seattle, Kubiak’s rise is a classic double-edged sword.
On one hand, this is exactly what the franchise wants its coordinators to be: in demand. Kubiak’s inclusion in Russini’s column reinforces the idea that league decision-makers see real value in what the Seahawks are building on offense, from scheme to week-to-week adaptability. His previous mention in Tom Pelissero’s rising young coaches report further underscores that.
On the other hand, it raises the possibility that Seattle could face another round of staff changes not long after settling into its current setup. If Kubiak lands interviews — and especially if he advances deep into the process with one or more teams — the Seahawks will have to think about continuity plans, succession options and how much of the current playbook is tied specifically to his vision.
Heavy.com previously broke down the early coaching buzz around Seattle’s staff, including how a successful season could make the Seahawks a prime target for owners looking to copy the formula. Russini’s reporting is the latest national sign that those conversations are no longer hypothetical; they’re happening in real time as the league lines up its next wave of head coaches.
Internally, this kind of attention can also be a motivator. Staffers know that finishing strong — in the red zone, on third down, in late-game situations — not only helps Seattle’s playoff chances, it strengthens the narrative around Kubiak and the staff as a whole. The better the offense looks in December and January, the louder the chatter will get.
Seahawks Coaching Buzz Won’t Slow Before Hiring Cycle
Even before Russini’s update, there was a sense around the league that Seattle’s staff could be in play once interviews open. Coordinators from competitive programs often see their phones light up on Black Monday and beyond, and Kubiak now has public confirmation from one of the league’s most plugged-in insiders that he’s in that conversation.
If Seattle’s offense finishes the year on a roll, it will only strengthen Kubiak’s case as a young offensive mind who can command a room and run his own program. If the unit stumbles, teams may still be intrigued, but the narrative shifts from “hot name” to “projection hire,” which matters in a cycle expected to feature multiple established contenders.
Either way, Russini’s column makes one thing clear: the Seahawks are firmly on the league’s radar again, and their offensive coordinator may be headed for a very busy January.
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