Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak Drawing Heavy Interest as Head Coach Openings Dwindle
With just two NFL head coaching jobs still open, all eyes are on Seattle-and specifically on Klint Kubiak.
The Seahawks’ offensive coordinator has become one of the hottest names in this year’s coaching cycle, and for good reason. He’s the architect of a record-setting offense in Seattle, and now both the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders are lining up for a second interview before the clock runs out on their window.
Under NFL rules, teams can only conduct second interviews with Super Bowl-bound coaches this week, and all meetings must wrap by February 1. After that, everything goes dark until February 9-the day after the Super Bowl-so as not to distract candidates from the biggest game of the year. That means Kubiak’s next round of interviews will likely take place this weekend, just before the Seahawks head to San Jose to begin final preparations for Super Bowl 60 against the New England Patriots.
According to reports, the Raiders and Cardinals are both expected to sit down with Kubiak again before Seattle flies out. The Seahawks will hold three practices at their Renton headquarters-Thursday through Saturday-before heading to the Bay Area. The Cardinals, for their part, already completed a second interview with Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur earlier this week, while the Raiders met with Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb.
Kubiak, 38, is in his first year with the Seahawks, and what a debut it’s been. He’s not only called plays for a unit that broke the franchise record for points in a season, but he’s also helped guide Pro Bowl quarterback Sam Darnold to his most efficient year as a pro. That kind of success doesn’t go unnoticed-especially with head coaching spots still up for grabs.
And while Kubiak is a top target for both remaining vacancies, Seattle may not be ready to let him walk. There’s a real possibility the Seahawks could look to sweeten the pot-think a raise or even a title bump to assistant head coach-in an effort to keep him in the building.
Kubiak’s resume is already deep. He’s had play-calling duties in Minnesota (2021) and New Orleans (2014), and he’s bounced around the league in various offensive roles since his early days with the Broncos from 2016 to 2018.
But this season in Seattle has been different. It’s not just about the numbers-it’s about the way his offense has clicked, the way players have bought in, and the way he’s elevated the unit as a whole.
He’s also handled the head-coaching interview process with poise. During Seattle’s playoff bye week, Kubiak juggled six first-round interviews while keeping his focus on the postseason push.
“It was good. There was a lot going on,” Kubiak said a couple weeks ago. “It was perfect timing-and then right back to business after that.”
He added that he’s spent offseasons preparing for moments like this, so when the calls came, he was ready. Still, his priority is clear: “We’ve worked our entire season, our whole lives, for games like this. This is the most important thing.”
That mindset hasn’t gone unnoticed by Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald, who’s been vocal in his support of Kubiak’s head-coaching aspirations. Macdonald, himself a first-time head coach after being hired from Baltimore last February, knows what it’s like to climb the ladder. He called the interest in Kubiak “bittersweet”-a nod to how valuable Kubiak has been to Seattle’s success this season.
“I think part of our vision of what we want to create here is a team where coaches want to work, and they can feel like they are getting developed, too, and they are getting opportunities,” Macdonald said. “If we are doing what we are supposed to on the field, those opportunities are going to come.”
And they are. Defensive coordinator Aden Durde also interviewed during the bye week, speaking with both the Falcons and Browns. The Falcons ultimately hired Kevin Stefanski, while the Browns turned to former Ravens OC Todd Monken.
But the buzz around Kubiak continues to grow, and it’s not just coming from front offices-it’s coming from inside the Seahawks locker room.
Rookie left guard Grey Zabel couldn’t have been more effusive in his praise.
“Klint’s just the worst coach ever. Don’t hire him,” Zabel joked, before getting serious.
“No, he’s an unbelievable dude, to start. The growth that we’ve had in this offense this year has been unbelievable.
One, his football IQ’s through the roof. He starts talking and it’s just a blur to you as he breaks down certain defenses and how to attack them.”
Zabel didn’t stop there: “He’s going to get an opportunity. It’s not if, it’s when he’ll be a head coach.
I wish I could have him here for as long as we possibly can in Seattle. But when you have an unbelievable person, unbelievable coach, unbelievable friend, it’s cool to see that he’s going to have opportunities.
And he deserves every bit of success.”
That kind of respect from players says a lot. Kubiak has built a reputation not just as a sharp offensive mind, but as a leader players rally around.
And now, with the Super Bowl on the horizon and only two head-coaching dominoes left to fall, Kubiak’s future is one of the biggest storylines to watch-not just in Seattle, but across the league.