Analysis: Tracking Seahawks’ 2026 Coaching Staff Interviews, Changes

Seattle Seahawks wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

While the Seattle Seahawks intend to maximize celebrating a Super Bowl LX win, the NFL operates as a year-round business and with sights on repeating next season, Mike Macdonald will have plenty of work on his plate building his coaching staff for the 2026 campaign.

Diving into every rumor, interview request, and hiring, Emerald City Spectrum will keep tabs on everything relating to the Seahawks’ latest coaching carousel. Make sure to check back often for the latest intel as Seattle aims to retain as many coaches as possible and hires replacements for those who depart:

February 9

Klint Kubiak officially accepts Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job

As expected, Kubiak will succeed former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll as the new head man in the Sin City, taking over a Raiders squad that won only three games last season with one of the worst offenses in the NFL. As a first-time head coach in the league, he will be aiming to bring as many experienced assistants onboard with him as he can, which opens the door for Seattle to lose other quality assistants, including offensive line coach John Benton, who has coached with Kubiak at multiple stops. Others such as quarterback coach Andrew Janocko and pass game coordinator Jake Peetz could be in contention to jump on as Las Vegas’ new offensive coordinator, which will put pressure on Macdonald trying to retain as many of his own assistants as possible.

February 11

Seahawks set to interview four internal candidates for offensive coordinator opening

Emphasizing continuity on an earlier interview with Seattle Sports 710, Macdonald backed up those words with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reporting Seattle is slated to interview Janocko, Peetz, run game specialist Justin Outten, and tight end coach Mack Brown as possible replacements for Kubiak. Of the four candidates, Brown has the most overall play calling experience on his resume, previously serving as an offensive coordinator at Missouri State for three seasons. Outten, however, is the only coach who has called plays in NFL regular season games, doing so for a pair of games with the Broncos in 2022.

For a deep dive on all four in-house candidates, click here.

February 12

Pair of Seahawks assistants scheduled for coordinator interviews in Arizona, Vegas

The coaching carousel continues to pick up speed for Macdonald’s staff, with defensive pass game coordinator Karl Scott recently interviewing for Arizona’s defensive coordinator role in the NFC West and receiver coach Frisman Jackson getting the first crack at joining Kubiak as Las Vegas’ new offensive coordinator. Scott already interviewed for one defensive coordinator job during Seattle’s playoff run, as Washington ultimately decided to hire Daronte Jones instead. Jackson has not been on the radar for other coordinator jobs, but with Kubiak set to call plays, it would be a promotion by title more than anything with him taking on a bigger role managing the entire offense. The two coaches hit it off well in their first season together with the Seahawks and now could work in tandem again with expected No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and running back Ashton Jeanty among other talents.

February 13

Seahawks linked to first external candidate for offensive coordinator vacancy

Along with four reported internal interviews seeking a replacement for Kubiak, Seattle has started to investigate options outside of the organization. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Seahawks will interview Cardinals pass game specialist Connor Senger for the vacancy, taking a close look at a rising young coach from an NFC West rival. The 30-year-old Senger has climbed the coaching ladder quite quickly since beginning his journey as a quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2017, jumping to the league as a Bill Bidwell Fellowship candidate in 2022 before joining Arizona’s staff full time as a quality control coordinator. Two years ago, he served as the Cardinals’ assistant quarterback coach before receiving a promotion to pass game specialist in 2025.

Mike Macdonald reunites with two former colleagues from Baltimore

In a somewhat surprising development, former Ravens defensive coordinator Zachary Orr, who replaced Macdonald in that role after he took over as Seahawks head coach two years ago, will be linking back up with Macdonald in the Pacific Northwest. Expected to take over as inside linebackers coach for Kirk Olivadotti, his arrival gives Seattle a fantastic contingency plan for if - not when - defensive coordinator Aden Durde lands a head coaching job of his own in the near future. Orr won’t be the only ex-Baltimore coach coming to Seattle, either. Assistant quarterback coach Daniel Stern will join the Seahawks for a role yet to be defined, though ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported pass game specialist could be in play.

For more details on the hirings of Orr and Stern, click here.

Karl Scott won’t be leaving for an NFC West rival after all

Linked to multiple defensive coordinator positions during this year’s coaching carousel, Scott met with the Cardinals earlier this week in regard to their vacancy on new coach Mike LaFleur’s staff. But Arizona decided to keep defensive coordinator Nick Rallis rather than hire a coach from the outside and with Las Vegas apparently not having interest in Scott for the same role, Macdonald will keep one of his top assistants for the 2026 season.

February 14

Long-time 49ers assistant in the mix for offensive coordinator vacancy

Keeping an active pipeline seeking Kyle Shanahan’s disciples alive, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Seahawks will interview 49ers tight ends coach/run game coordinator Brian Fleury. With more than a decade of NFL coaching experience, Fleury brings unique qualifications to the coordinator search, as he began his professional career on the defensive side of the ball before making the switch to offense in San Francisco in 2020. He has never been a play caller at any level, but he worked in conjunction with Shanahan this past season with heavy involvement in scheming the run game, making him a natural fit to succeed Kubiak.

For a deep dive on Fleury and other external candidates, click here.

Macdonald won’t lose any assistants to the Raiders as a defensive coordinator

In a somewhat surprising development, Kubiak won’t be stealing a defensive coach away from Macdonald’s staff to fill Las Vegas’ defensive coordinator role. Instead, the Raiders will promote from the previous staff, retaining Rob Leonard and elevating him into the coordinator role. Kubiak reportedly had interest in speaking with former Ravens defensive coordinator Zachary Orr, only for the 33-year-old coach to turn down an interview opportunity to reunite with Macdonald as the new inside linebackers coach for the Seahawks. Safeties coach Jeff Howard also reportedly interviewed for the position, but will return to Seattle instead.