The Seattle Seahawks are making a key adjustment on the coaching front, as running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu has taken a leave of absence for personal reasons. Head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed Polamalu will not return for the remainder of the season.
Polamalu’s absence marks a significant moment for the Seahawks’ offensive staff. A veteran of 34 seasons across college and the NFL - including 15 years in the pros - Polamalu brought a deep well of experience and a steady hand to Seattle’s backfield. His coaching influence has been felt in the development of the Seahawks' ground game over the past two seasons, and his presence will be missed both on the field and in the meeting rooms.
In the interim, the Seahawks are turning to a two-man team to handle running backs duties: Justin Outten and Michael Byrne.
Outten, who joined the Seahawks in February as run game coordinator, is no stranger to handling multiple responsibilities. He served as the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator in 2022 and took on both running backs coach and run game coordinator roles with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. That kind of versatility is going to be critical here, as the Seahawks look to maintain continuity in a backfield that’s been asked to do a lot this season - from pass protection to zone reads and everything in between.
Outten’s experience designing and managing run schemes at the NFL level gives Seattle a coach who can not only keep the ship steady but potentially offer some added wrinkles to the rushing attack. His familiarity with the current personnel and offensive structure should help ease the transition.
Byrne, meanwhile, is stepping into the biggest opportunity of his young NFL career. Though he has just two years of league experience, both came under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak - first in New Orleans and now in Seattle - which speaks volumes about the trust and continuity within this coaching tree.
Byrne’s coaching résumé is more extensive at the collegiate level, where he’s worked across all three NCAA divisions. He’s coached running backs before, including stints at West Texas A&M and as an assistant at Texas A&M, giving him a solid foundation to draw from as he takes on more responsibility.
This isn’t just a fill-in situation - it’s a chance for both Outten and Byrne to make their mark. Outten brings the NFL pedigree, while Byrne brings familiarity with Kubiak’s system and a fresh perspective. Together, they’ll be tasked with keeping the Seahawks’ run game on track during a pivotal stretch of the season.
As for Polamalu, his impact on the Seahawks over the past two years has been significant. While he steps away for now, his legacy in the locker room and the running backs room is firmly in place.