As the Super Bowl looms, there’s a growing sense around the league that Klint Kubiak’s days in Seattle are numbered - not because of performance, but because opportunity is knocking. The Seahawks’ offensive coordinator is widely expected to take over as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after the big game, stepping into the role vacated by Pete Carroll. And while that’s a major move in itself, the ripple effects could be even more significant - especially for the Seahawks’ coaching staff.
The natural first concern is the offensive side of the ball. When a coordinator gets a head coaching gig, it’s common practice to bring along trusted assistants - the guys who know the system, speak the same football language, and can help install the new culture. So it’s no surprise that much of the early chatter has centered on which offensive staffers Kubiak might take with him to Vegas.
But that’s only part of the equation.
During a conversation from Radio Row in San Francisco, former NFL quarterback and longtime analyst Brock Huard raised a point that’s flying under the radar: what about the defensive coaches? Specifically, could Kubiak also look to poach from the other side of the ball - from Mike Macdonald’s staff - as he builds out his new team?
“You know who we’ve not talked about?” Huard asked. “The defensive guys Kubiak could take.”
It’s a fair question, and one that becomes even more relevant when you consider the setup in Seattle. While Aden Durde holds the title of defensive coordinator, it’s Macdonald who calls the plays. That dynamic means Durde, now in his second season with the Seahawks, could be looking for a chance to run a defense in full - and a move to Las Vegas might offer that opportunity.
Kubiak, after all, has spent the entire season watching Durde work up close during practices. He’s seen how the defensive staff prepares, how they adjust, how they teach. And that kind of familiarity can be invaluable when assembling a new coaching staff.
Another name to keep an eye on: Karl Scott, Seattle’s secondary coach. Scott has earned plenty of respect in the building and has been instrumental in developing a young, aggressive defensive backfield. As Huard noted, Scott is “pretty beloved” on that side of the ball - and he’s another coach Kubiak has had a front-row seat to observe all year long.
It’s easy to get locked in on the offensive names when talking about Kubiak’s potential move. But remember, he’s been facing Macdonald’s defense every day in practice.
He’s seen how Durde and Scott operate, how they communicate, how they coach. And if you’re building a staff from scratch, you don’t just want familiarity - you want people you trust, people who’ve proven themselves under pressure.
That’s what makes this situation so delicate for the Seahawks. Mike Macdonald is only two years into his tenure, and continuity is critical when building a new culture.
Losing Kubiak is one thing - expected, even. But losing multiple assistants, including key defensive minds, could be a tougher pill to swallow.
“This league is so hard to sustain and so hard to win in,” Huard said. “You lose good people.
And there are going to be good people that are going to go out that door. I just hope it’s not too many of them.”
That’s the reality of the NFL. When you have success - or even the promise of it - other teams come calling.
And while the Seahawks are locked in on the task at hand this Sunday, the front office is surely keeping a close eye on what could come next. Because after the confetti falls, the real offseason begins - and for Seattle, it could start with more than just a coaching vacancy.