The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks already had the kind of Week 18 matchup that feels like a playoff game, and now it has a weirdly personal wrinkle.
Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said on January 1 during a press conference that he’s had “radio silence” with his younger brother, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, as the teams prepare to meet Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium.
And the timing couldn’t be bigger: the game is a winner-take-all for the NFC West title, the conference’s No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage.
Seahawks OC Says “Radio Silence” With 49ers Brother
Klint Kubiak was asked about the family dynamic with his brother on the other sideline, and he didn’t pretend it was business as usual.
He described “radio silence” when asked whether the brothers had talked over the holidays and suggested “less is more” with this game, not wanting to accidentally say the wrong thing.
Kubiak also joked about the awkwardness for their parents, essentially admitting he isn’t even sure who they’ll be rooting for in a spot like this.
The Kubiaks aren’t the first football family to treat rivalry week like a blackout, but it’s rare to hear a coordinator say it out loud, especially with both brothers calling parts of the offense for teams playing for something this massive.
Why This Matters for the 49ers
From the 49ers’ perspective, the interesting part isn’t “are they sharing secrets?” It’s the opposite: they’re not.
That’s a small signal of how seriously both staffs are treating this matchup, the kind of game where you don’t even want harmless chatter creating noise, distractions, or second-guessing.
It also underscores how far Klay Kubiak’s profile has risen inside the organization. He’s in his first season as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator after climbing the staff ladder over multiple roles. Head coach Kyle Shanahan sung his praises in a different press conference on January 1, too.
“Klay does not get enough recognition,” Shanahan said. It’s nothing against anyone else but he’s as good as anyone I’ve had and is responsible for just as much if not more of the game plan than myself. So, Klay’s a stud.”
Meanwhile, Klint Kubiak has been a major part of Seattle’s rise since being hired as offensive coordinator in 2025, and the Seahawks’ own bio highlights how long he’s been in NFL rooms and how highly he’s regarded. Klint Kubiak’s name also keeps popping into NFL head coaching rumors.
This isn’t just a novelty “brothers story.” It’s a pressure moment where two play-callers from the same coaching tree are trying to win a game that changes the postseason path.
A “Pressure” Game and Everyone Knows It
The 49ers’ own Week 18 preview laid out the stakes in black and white: win and you get the best possible road to a Super Bowl; lose and you’re heading into the playoffs as a wild card.
So when Seattle’s offensive coordinator says he’s basically not talking to his brother on the 49ers’ staff?
That’s not family drama.
That’s a tell: this one is being treated like playoff football already.
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