Bump: Why Seahawks made right call with OC pick

After a nearly three-week search, the Seattle Seahawks have landed on Klint Kubiak as their new offensive coordinator.

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The 37-year-old Kubiak comes to Seattle after two previous stints as an NFL play-caller, having served as the Minnesota Vikings’ OC in 2021 and the New Orleans Saints’ OC in 2024.

That differentiated Kubiak from the other two candidates who reportedly received in-person second interviews, as neither Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley or Minnesota Vikings assistant OC/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski have NFL play-calling experience.

It also differentiated Kubiak from former Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb, who was let go earlier this month after Seattle’s inconsistent season on offense. Grubb was hired last winter on the heels of two immensely successful seasons across town as UW Huskies OC, but had never called plays or even coached at the NFL level before.

For Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus, Kubiak’s NFL play-calling experience made him the best candidate for the job.

“I just don’t want to go through those bumps in the road with a guy who hasn’t called (NFL plays) before,” Bumpus said Monday on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “… I think that this offense is in a place in its development where a mature, experienced offensive coordinator will benefit it the most.

“This organization is not a startup,” he added. “It’s almost like we’ve been in business for a couple years. I know it’s been one year with (head coach) Mike Macdonald, but the feeling is things have been moving a bit. You need an experienced president or manager to come in and make sure your processes are on point.”

Kubiak’s offenses with the Vikings and Saints didn’t put up earth-shattering numbers. His 2021 Minnesota offense ranked 14th in scoring, 11th in passing yards and 17th in rushing yards. His 2024 New Orleans offense scored a record-setting 91 points through its first two games, but suffered from a slew of injuries and finished 24th in scoring, 23rd in passing yards and 14th in rushing yards.

However, Bumpus liked what he saw from Kubiak’s offense from a schematic perspective.

“Forget the numbers,” Bumpus said. “The numbers play tricks on you sometimes. Watch the film. And the reason why I like what I saw on film: a fullback was used. You’ve got jet sweep. Off the jet sweep, you’ve got split zone. You have offsets. You’re in shotgun. You’re under center. You’ve got wide zone. There’s a quick game. There’s double tight ends. There’s shifts. There’s tosses. There’s dropbacks. There’s power. There’s trap. It’s a multiple type of offense, and I think (quarterback Geno Smith) will benefit from being under center a lot more than he was last year.

“When you look at the film, (Kubiak) has a plan and he’s not just shooting from the hip,” Bumpus added. “And that’s what I appreciate about it. So we’ll wait and see. Is it a guarantee that this is gonna hit and be great? No, nothing is guaranteed. But out of what you had – out of your options – I like this pick.”

Listen to the full conversation on Bump and Stacy at this link or in the audio player near the middle of this story. Tune in to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• 24 numbers that sum up the Seattle Seahawks’ 2024 season
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