The Seattle Seahawks are surging at the right time, and after a statement win over the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional round, they look every bit like a team built for a Super Bowl run. The defense has been the backbone of this postseason push, but don't overlook what Klint Kubiak and the offense have brought to the table. This unit has taken a major leap forward from where it was a year ago - and Kubiak’s fingerprints are all over that transformation.
But success comes at a cost. Kubiak’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed, and he’s now firmly in the mix for several head coaching vacancies around the league. That’s the double-edged sword of a deep playoff run: while teams want to hold onto their top assistants, the rest of the NFL is watching - and waiting.
Here’s where things get interesting for Seattle. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Seahawks’ victory over the 49ers - along with the Broncos’ win - means that teams looking to hire Kubiak will have to wait at least another week to conduct second-round interviews. That delay could be a small but meaningful win for Seattle.
Kubiak is part of a group of in-demand candidates, including Aden Durde, Vance Joseph, and Davis Webb, whose interview processes are now on pause. For the Seahawks, that buys a little time - and in the coaching carousel, timing is everything. With other teams potentially moving forward with hires, some may not be willing to wait out Seattle’s playoff run to get a second sit-down with Kubiak.
It’s a dynamic that played out last offseason, when the Philadelphia Eagles nearly retained Kellen Moore before the New Orleans Saints swooped in with patience and persistence. Seattle could benefit from a similar scenario - except this time, they’re the ones hoping to hold on.
There’s no question that losing Kubiak would be a significant blow. His offensive scheme has brought balance, creativity, and a renewed rhythm to Seattle’s attack - and it's helped push this team to the NFC Championship Game. But for now, the Seahawks get to keep him in the building, at least for another week.
And that’s the silver lining. Every win not only moves Seattle closer to a Lombardi Trophy, it also keeps Kubiak off the interview circuit just a little longer. The deeper the Seahawks go, the more complicated it becomes for other teams to wait him out.
Seattle won’t stand in his way if the right opportunity comes along - that’s the nature of the business. But make no mistake: they’d love to keep Kubiak in navy and action green. And thanks to their playoff success, the odds of that happening might be just a little better than they were last week.
Of course, if this run ends with a Super Bowl appearance - or even a title - the sting of losing a rising star like Kubiak would be softened. Until then, the Seahawks are riding the momentum, keeping their offensive coordinator in-house, and inching closer to the biggest stage in football.