Photo Credit: Daniel Bartel-Imagn Images
A portion of Seattle Seahawks fans wants the team to move on from quarterback Geno Smith, but new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak sees him as a major reason for taking the job.
During his introductory press conference Tuesday at team headquarters, Kubiak emphasized his belief in Smith, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to him as the likely starter in 2025. Last week, head coach Mike Macdonald also gave Smith a strong endorsement, and neither coach hinted at any potential change under center.
Kubiak, who was a candidate for the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator role before they promoted Tommy Rees, made it clear that working with Smith was a key factor in his decision to join Seattle.
Kubiak’s High Expectations for Smith
“Geno’s a very aggressive player,” Kubiak said. “Has a lot of production. Obviously, he’s been doing it for a long time. He’s overcome a lot in his career. I have a lot of respect for Geno. It was a huge draw to come here and be able to get to coach him alongside [quarterbacks coach] Andrew Janocko. We have high expectations for him. We’re going to push Geno and get the best out of him, and we’ll do that by pushing his teammates, as well. It’s not just his show. It’s a team thing, and he’s got to be the head of that.”
Smith’s Future in Seattle
Smith’s future in Seattle has been a hot topic due to inconsistent performances over the past two seasons and the organization’s initial lack of commitment last offseason. Entering the final year of his contract, Smith carries a $44.5 million cap hit in 2025, including a $16 million roster bonus due on March 16. The Seahawks are expected to negotiate an extension to ease that cap burden.
Last season, Smith threw 21 touchdown passes but had 15 interceptions, including a league-high four in the red zone. Despite Seattle’s struggling run game, he set franchise records with 4,320 passing yards and a 70.4% completion rate. He also led four game-winning drives, bringing his two-season total to nine, tying Patrick Mahomes for the most in the NFL over that span, per ESPN Research.
“I think Geno’s tough as nails,” Kubiak said. “I think you look at the guy in the fourth quarter and he goes and wins football games. That excites me. That fires me up. I’ve watched his career, studying him now more than I ever have before, but you think about a guy that’s been through a lot of adversity, a guy that’s been knocked off the high horse and had to claw his way back into the starter’s role. And then he comes back the last two years and wins more games in the fourth quarter than anybody in the NFL. That’s a guy that I want to coach.”
The Seahawks’ Extensive OC Search
Macdonald, a methodical decision-maker, conducted an extensive search to replace Ryan Grubb, whom he fired after one season due to philosophical differences. He interviewed at least seven candidates over three weeks, leaning on assistant head coach Leslie Frazier and seeking input from non-offensive coaches, including defensive coordinator Aden Durde and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh.
Why the Seahawks Chose Kubiak
Macdonald ultimately decided that Kubiak, 37, was the right fit.
“As the process started to unfold, it became really clear that Klint was the best option for us,” Macdonald said. “Really excited about it. … It’s Klint as the person, as a man of really high integrity, high character, passion for the game, passion for his players, humility. I just really respect Klint as a person. Excited for him to work with our players.
“And as a coach, just the scheme expertise. This guy has been around the game for a long time, well documented with his family, and I have so much respect for his brothers and for his father, Gary; I worked with him in 2014. But the passion for the game, the scheme expertise, the track record with the quarterback. Guys have played at a really high level every stop that he’s been. The evolution of the scheme, too, and being able to fit it to your personnel. Klint has a really great vision for where he wants our offense to go. He was very clear with that with the personnel we have on our roster. We’ll talk about it as we go here, but I definitely believe that aligns with how we want to rock.”
Kubiak, the son of former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, has had two one-year offensive coordinator stints—first with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, then the New Orleans Saints last season, both ending when the head coaches were fired. He also had a six-game stretch as the Denver Broncos’ play-caller in 2022 and worked as the San Francisco 49ers’ passing game coordinator in 2023.
Kubiak’s Offensive Vision
Seattle’s offense will emphasize the run game, something Grubb didn’t prioritize enough for Macdonald’s liking. But Kubiak stressed the importance of being adaptable.
“We have to be able to win in multiple ways,” Kubiak said.
Macdonald believes Kubiak’s system will help Smith, who ranked 21st in Total QBR last season at 53.8, his lowest as Seattle’s full-time starter.
“I think there’s a lot of clarity in what we’re trying to do, there’s a lot of detail,” Macdonald said. “They’ve kind of lived through all the things that can happen to the quarterback, so it’s very clean in terms of progressions. And I think there’s an accountability factor for the whole football team. We’ve all got to play on the same accord. We have to be in the right spot when we need to be there. The ball needs to be out on time. The protection all works hand in hand. So it’s going to take everybody, but it’s a very clear vision and detail on how we need to get there.”
Coaching Staff Additions and Lockett’s Future
Before Kubiak’s press conference, the Seahawks announced several coaching hires. Janocko will be the quarterbacks coach, John Benton will oversee the offensive line, and Michael Byrne will join as an offensive assistant. All three worked with Kubiak in New Orleans. Macdonald noted that more hires are in the works, and all current staff members will return.
One major roster decision still looms: wide receiver Tyler Lockett’s future with the team. The second-leading receiver in franchise history wants to play his 11th NFL season but could become a cap casualty unless he agrees to another contract restructure.
For now, though, the Seahawks’ biggest focus is solidifying their offensive identity under Kubiak—and they’re moving forward with Geno Smith leading the way.
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This report used information from ESPN.
