Report: Seahawks hiring Northern Illinois’ Hammock to coach RBs

The Seattle Seahawks are hiring Northern Illinois University head coach Thomas Hammock as their new running backs coach and senior offensive assistant, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Wednesday morning.

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Northern Illinois also announced Hammock’s resignation for a return to the NFL on Wednesday.

Thamel reported Hammock had interviewed for Seattle’s offensive coordinator job. That role was filled by San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Fleury, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

Hammock is expected to become the NFL’s highest paid running backs coach, per Thamel.

The Seahawks’ running backs coach job has been open since former coach Kennedy Polamalu took a leave of absence in December. He did not return to the team.

Hammock, 44, has spent the past seven seasons guiding the Huskies, compiling a 35-47 record. He led his alma mater to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) title and was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2021. Northern Illinois reached three bowl games under Hammock. The program also earned its first-ever win against a top-five team, knocking off eventual national title runner-up Notre Dame in a shocking 16-14 upset during the 2024 season.

Prior to coaching the Huskies, Hammock spent five years (2014-18) as the running backs coach of the Baltimore Ravens where he coached alongside Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. Thamel noted their prior relationship “played a big role” in Hammock’s decision to return to the NFL with Seattle.

Hammock is the third former Ravens assistant to join Macdonald’s staff this offseason. The team has reportedly added Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr as its insider linebackers coach and Ravens director of football strategy/assistant quarterbacks coach Daniel Stern to its offensive staff.

A Jersey City, New Jersey, native, Hammock began his coaching career in 2003 as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin. In 2005, he took over as the running backs coach at Northern Illinois. He took over the same role at the University of Minnesota in 2007 and became the program’s co-offensive coordinator in 2010. In 2011, he became the University of Wisconsin’s running backs coach and added the role of assistant head coach 2012.

Hammock was a standout running back at Northern Illinois in the early 2000s. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons during 2000 and 2001, earning a first-team All-MAC selection each year. He ran for a career-high 16 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2000 and a career-high 1,096 yards as a junior in 2001.

Hammock’s playing career was cut short when he retired with one year of eligibility remaining in 2002 due to being diagnosed with a heart condition.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• What stands out to Brock about new Seahawks OC Fleury
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