Seahawks begin offensive coordinator search

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DETROIT,MICHIGAN-November 17: Detroit Lions offensive line Hank Fraley talks to running back David Montgomery (5) during the second half of an NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunda (Jorge Lemus / NurPhoto / Getty Images)

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The Seattle Seahawks have begun their search for a replacement for fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb by reportedly scheduling a trio of interviews this week.

According to Albert Breer of theMMQB.com, the Seahawks have scheduled an interview with Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley for Friday, and Chicago Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown for Saturday.

Additionally, the Seahawks have submitted an interview request with the New Orleans Saints for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.

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Mike Macdonald praises Geno Smith, gives outlook on new offensive coordinator search

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Mike Macdonald praises Geno Smith, gives outlook on new offensive coordinator search

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald expanded on his decision to fire offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and threw his support behind quarterback Geno Smith during his season-ending press conference on Tuesday.

"It's not a specific, it's not like this like, ‘hey, they have to have A, B and C," Macdonald said this week of what they're looking for in a new coordinator. "We want to have an open mind. We want to try to find the best fit for our football team and the guys we have on offense right now."

Here's a quick rundown of the three coaches reported to be candidates for the job:

Hank Fraley

Fraley, 47, has spent the last seven seasons on the Lions coaching staff with the last five years in the role of offensive line coach.

Fraley spent 11 seasons in the NFL after entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Robert Morris University in 2000. He earned the starting center job with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2001 and made 31 starts over five seasons with the team. He also was the starting center for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX against the New England Patriots at the end of the 2004 season.

Fraley made 123 starts in 142 career games played with the Eagles, Cleveland Browns, and St. Louis Rams.

Fraley began his coaching journey with the University of San Diego in 2012, and coached one year with San Jose State in 2013 before moving to the NFL ranks with the Minnesota Vikings in 2014. He spent three years as an assistant offensive line coach with the Vikings before a one-year return to college at UCLA in 2017. He joined Dan Campbell's staff as an assistant offensive line coach in 2018 and was promoted to offensive line coach in 2020.

Per Breer's report, Fraley has done his homework to have possible passing game coordinators at the ready to pair with if he were to get an offensive coordinator job.

The offensive line and the running game were two significant weaknesses for the Seahawks this past season.

Thomas Brown

Brown, 38, began this season as the passing game coordinator for the Chicago Bears under former Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. However, Brown took over that job when Waldron was fired in early November, and then was named interim head coach when Matt Eberflus was fired in late November.

Brown and Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald attended the University of Georgia at the same time, though Macdonald wasn't a part of the football program with Brown. Brown spent parts of three seasons in the NFL as a player with the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns, but never appeared in a game.

Brown made seven different stops as a coach in the college ranks before joining the Los Angeles Rams as a running backs coach in 2020. He added the assistant head coach title in 2021, and was moved to coach tight ends instead of running backs in 2022. Brown then spent one season as offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers in 2023 before joining the Bears.

Klint Kubiak

Kubiak, 37, is the son of former Denver Broncos and Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak. Klint spent this season as the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, though his position is in question as head coach Dennis Allen was fired during the season.

Kubiak has been a coach in the NFL since the 2013 season except for one year at the University of Kansas in 2015. He was an offensive quality control coach with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013-14, and joins his dad with the Broncos in 2016. Though his dad retired after the 2016 season, Kubiak remained the team two more seasons.

Kubiak returned to the Vikings as a quarterbacks coach for two seasons and then spent one year as offensive coordinator in 2021. Kubiak then returned to Denver for one season as passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022, and then one year as passing game coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers in 2023 before joining the Saints.

Additional Notes:

– Former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll interviewed with the Chicago Bears for their head coach position on Thursday.

– Defensive lineman Leonard Williams was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December. He had six sacks, nine tackles for loss, and a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown in his standout month.

– Offensive quality control coach Zak Hill has left the team to become the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Boise State.

– Quarterbacks coach Charles London is scheduled to interview with the Cleveland Browns for their offensive coordinator job on Friday, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.

– The Tennessee Titans have requested permission to speak with Seahawks senior director of player personnel Matt Berry for their vacant general manager position, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.