Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Even before they played in the Super Bowl, the Seattle Seahawks knew they were going to need to find a new offensive coordinator. After just one season, Klint Kubiak was set to become the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Kubiak was the best offensive coordinator the Seahawks have had in recent memory, as he helped unleash Jaxon Smith-Njigba into the Offensive Player of the Year and schemed up the run game effectively.

Since the Seahawks were playing in the Super Bowl, they weren’t able to go after some of the big names who were available, like Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll. The Seahawks were rumored to promote someone in-house. They interviewed pass game coordinator Jake Peetz, run game coordinator Justin Outten, quarterback coach Andrew Janocko, and tight ends coach Mack Brown.

Ultimately, they chose a different direction, hiring a coach from a division rival. Mike Macdonald and his staff hired Brian Fleury as their new offensive coordinator, the former tight ends coach of the San Francisco 49ers. It seemed like Macdonald wanted someone from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree and someone who would run a similar scheme to what Kubiak ran this past year.

If there’s one thing the 49ers know how to do, it’s feed their tight ends. I like the hire, and I do expect a similar scheme to the one Kubiak ran this past year, with Fleury adding his own unique wrinkles. I’m a fan of anything that keeps Sam Darnold playing well and allows the Seahawks to run the ball effectively.