Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak already has interviews set up with five of the eight NFL teams with head coach openings (so far). As Daniel Jeremiah on Seattle Sports Radio stated,
“he seems to be the number one offensive candidate… everyone you talk to has him as the top offensive guy.” The Seahawks’ success this season as well as the last name “Kubiak” surely help as well. All of this points to the very high likelihood that Kubiak will be one and done in Seattle as offensive coordinator (OC). With that, let us look at some names of who could potentially replace Kubiak as OC.
This list will be in descending order, the favorite (or at least this author’s favorites) options up top, with other intriguing names below.
Favorites, but unlikely:
Kevin Stefanski, former Browns head coach
There is no need to go too deep into Stefanski as an option since the two-time NFL Coach of the Year will likely get another head coaching job this offseason. However, if that doesn’t happen, Stefanski would be a slam dunk hire. Stefanski helped develop Kirk Cousins into his best years with the Vikings before becoming the Browns head coach. While with the Browns, Stefanski helped develop Baker Mayfield into an NFL passer and led the team to two playoff appearances (2020 and 2023), the first playoff appearances for that franchise since 2002.
Mike McDaniel, former Dolphins head coach
McDaniel is a formidable offensive mind, from his days back in San Francisco as their run game coordinator and offensive coordinator to his record setting offenses in Miami. There were rumors earlier this season that Seattle was interested in running back, Devon Achane. Why not bring in Achane’s coach and pair him with the Seahawks current running back room? The only reason McDaniel is not a legit option is because he very likely could be getting another head coaching job this offseason. And even if he doesn’t, he will likely be the number one offensive coordinator option for any NFL team this offseason.
Grant Udinski, current Jaguars offensive coordinator
Udinski was a favorite to land the Seahawks offensive coordinator job last offseason before Seattle went with Kubiak. However, Udinski quickly landed a job with the Jaguars as their offensive coordinator. This season, with Udinski and head coach Liam Coen, the Jaguars have quickly become a top offense in the NFL, and arguably the hottest offense currently in the playoffs. However, why would Udinski make a lateral move to Seattle? Well, Udinski does not call plays in Jacksonville; Coen does. Because of this, coming to Seattle as a play caller would technically be a promotion. Why is Udinski still unlikely? Two reasons. First, the Jaguars could still block an interview by Seattle, like the Giants did with Mike Kafka last season. Second, Udinski is already getting head coach interest from around the league.
Favorites, but are legit options:
Mike Kafka, former Giants interim head coach
Two seasons ago when the Seahawks were looking for Head Coach, they interviewed Kafka twice. Then Mike Macdonald was hired. Well even after that, Seattle still tried to hire Kafka as the offensive coordinator. However, the Giants blocked the interview request. Well now the entire Giants staff (including Kafka) are gone, so there won’t be any risk of an interview request being denied. This season Kafka helped develop quarterback Jaxson Dart into an intriguing, albeit injury prone rookie year. Could Kafka, who took over as the Giants interim head coach, be an option that the Seahawks look at? History shows that is highly likely.
Jake Peetz, Seahawks offensive passing game coordinator
A common approach teams take when a coordinator leaves is to promote from within. It’s a way of showing continuity in the scheme. Offensive passing game coordinator, Jake Peetz would likely be the next man up. Peetz, who already was getting offensive coordinator interviews before joining Seattle in 2024, came to Seattle after working with Sean McVay as a pass game specialist with the Rams. It is also telling that despite being the pass game coordinator under Ryan Grubb last season, he was not let go along with Grubb. Rather, Seattle chose to keep Peetz to work with Kubiak. The fact that Peetz is a coordinator, helping put plays together is a huge bonus for him as well. This author is no betting man, but if Kubiak leaves, Peetz may be the guy (and that’s if another team doesn’t snag him first.)
Hank Fraley, Lions OL coach/run game coordinator
Fraley has something in common with both Kafka and Peetz. First, like Kafka, Fraley was a candidate for the offensive coordinator job in Seattle last season. Second, like Peetz, Fraley is a coordinator, just not for the pass game, but rather the run game in Detroit. Fraley decided to stay in Detroit last season. However, after the Lions had an underwhelming year, which included the firing of their offensive coordinator, could Fraley potentially consider looking elsewhere? If so, the Seahawks may still be interested.
Todd Monken, Ravens offensive coordinator
Coaching opportunities are often based on who you know. Just look at the connection between Klint Kubiak and Sam Darnold from their days back in San Francisco. Well, with the Ravens firing John Harbaugh, the entire Ravens coaching staff is now seemingly available. Who has ton of connections to the Ravens former coaching staff? Mike Macdonald. Monken isn’t a good candidate only because of his connections to Macdonald. Monken is a heck of an offensive mind as well. Monken had his University of Georgia team ranked top five in the country in 2021 and 2022. Monken then joined the Ravens in 2023 getting the team up to 6th in total offense in the NFL and helping Lamar Jackson win the MVP. Monken will surely be a favorite name for any offensive coordinator opening in the NFL this offseason.
Thomas Brown, Patriots passing game coordinator/TE Coach
Brown, like Fraley and Kafka, interviewed for the Seahawks offensive coordinator role last season. After serving as the interim head coach for the Bears at the end of 2024. Brown eventually landed with the Patriots for 2025 as the passing game coordinator and tight ends coach. In that role, Brown has helped develop Drake Maye into a legitimate MVP candidate and has helped tight end Hunter Henry reach his career highs in receiving yards and touchdowns. Brown has even gotten head coaching interest this offseason as well, as he is set to interview with the Arizona Cardinals in the coming weeks. If Brown doesn’t land a head coaching gig, he surely will be a favorite for offensive coordinator somewhere in the NFL.
Davis Webb, Broncos offensive pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach
Webb, is a former Texas Tech quarterback where he played for Kliff Kingsbury (more on him below). Webb also played in the NFL for six season before joining the Denver Broncos in 2023. The last two seasons, Webb, while working at the hip with Sean Payton, has played a large part in developing Bo Nix into the quarterback he is today. This development of Nix this season has led Webb to getting plenty of interest around the league as a head coach, all this despite only being 30 years old.
The guys with the Sean McVay magic touch:
With how the Rams have looked under Sean McVay’s watch over the last near-decade, it is no wonder why every NFL team wants some of what he is cooking, Seattle included. Just look at the Jake Peetz hire mentioned above. Well, if Seattle wants to go back for seconds, Nate Scheelhaase and Aubrey Pleasant are names to watch. And why wouldn’t they. The Rams offense is once again one of the best in the league and has Matthew Stafford in position to potentially win an MVP this season.
Nate Scheelhaase, Rams Passing Game Coordinator;
Scheelhaase, a former Iowa State assistant coach before joining the Rams, has had plenty of offensive coordinator interviews around the NFL already. Only 35 years old, this young, fast rising name will surely have an offensive coordinator job this season, so he will be one to watch on if Seattle would even be able to get him in for an interview.
Aubrey Pleasant, Rams AHC/Passing Game Coordinator
Pleasant has been an NFL assistant coach since 2013, which high school and college stints before then. However, that long NFL career has led Pleasant to working with some heavy hitter NFL names (Mike Shanahan from 2013 -2016, Sean McVay from 2017-2020/2023, Dan Campbell from 2021-2022, and Matt LaFleur in 2022.) Although lots of Pleasant’s experience has been on the defensive side of the ball, being able to see both sides of the ball can be a huge advantage in the NFL game of chess. Pleasant may not be the name most people are thinking of as an offensive coordinator option, but look out for his name in the coming weeks.
The guys who kind of had a Klint Kubiak 2024 season with the Saints in 2025:
When the Seahawks hired Kubiak last offseason, there were tons of questions around if he will be successful. Kubiak was coming off a 2024 season with the Saints where the team started off hot offensively (averaging 45.5 points per game in weeks one and two) before falling off the tracks, much of which was due to injuries. Despite this, the Seahawks took a chance on Kubiak, and the results have gone well in their favor. Well, Kliff Kingsbury and Josh Grizzard might have more in common with Kubiak’s 2024 season then you might think.
Kliff Kingsbury, former Washington offensive coordinator
Kingsbury, the former Cardinals head coach joined the Commanders in 2024 and had quick success with Jayden Daniels, helping lead the team to the NFC Championship. Unfortunately, this season did not look as good. However, much of the 2025 lack of success could easily be because of injuries. Daniels only played in seven games this season, and when he did play, he was not 100%. The fact that the Commanders’ team fought for Kingsbury to stay is also telling. The downside for Kingsbury is that he could also easily be a quick tenured coordinator in Seattle. If he has success, he would quickly become a head coach candidate once again, as his name is even reportedly linked to some head coach openings this offseason.
Josh Grizzard, former Buccaneers offensive coordinator
As Seahawks fans saw firsthand this season, Josh Grizzard had the Buccaneers offensive humming. In the first half of the season, Tampa Bay was 6-2, Emeka Egbuka was a favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the Buccaneers looked like favorites in the NFC. However, the second half of the season went awry as Tampa Bay suffered many injuries to key players such as Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, and Chris Godwin. Sure sounds like Kubiak in 2024 does it not? At only 35 years old, Grizzard may be another young up and coming coach who just got hit with bad injury luck.
Known Names, but unlikely:
- Brian Daboll, former Giants HC;
- Eric Bieniemy, Bears RB coach
- Luke Getsy, Packers senior assistant/former NFL OC
- Brian Callahan, former Titans HC
- Byron Leftwich, Former NFL QB/OC, current assistant coach at Colorado
This is a catchall bucket that may seem interesting at first, however seem unlikely (at least to me). Daboll is a loud personality, and would seem like an awkward fit in Macdonald’s staff. Bieniemy has helped the Bears develop a potent running attack, however how much of that is simply Ben Johnson? Getsy is a seasoned coach, but the Packers offense has seemed relatively underwhelming most of the season. Callahan is coming off of a big stinker in Tennessee, and his success in Cincinnati before, though intriguing, came alongside Joe Burrow. And the lack of promise in Tennessee raises further questions as to who was pulling the strings offensively in Cincinnati. Leftwich was interviewed by Seattle last season for the offensive coordinator job. However, the Colorado Buffaloes offense this season has not looked impressive.
