Seahawks Hire Brian Fleury as New Offensive Coach

The Seattle Seahawks are getting a new offensive coordinator. They have chosen Brian Fleury, who worked with the San Francisco 49ers. He will lead the team's offense next season.
By Newsroom | NFL, Seattle Seahawks |

The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly set to hire Brian Fleury, currently the tight ends coach and run game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, as their new offensive coordinator. This move follows the departure of Klint Kubiak, who accepted the head coaching position with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Seahawks' decision comes after a period of deliberation where they also interviewed several internal candidates for the role.

The hiring of Fleury represents a notable shift for the Seahawks, who were reportedly leaning towards promoting from within their existing coaching staff. Head Coach Mike Macdonald had stated a preference for continuity. However, the team ultimately opted to bring in an external candidate from a division rival.

Sources: Seahawks to hire 49ers' Fleury as OC - 1

Background of the Hiring Process

Following the Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks faced a vacancy at the offensive coordinator position when Klint Kubiak was hired by the Las Vegas Raiders. This triggered a search process, with Head Coach Mike Macdonald indicating an initial inclination towards maintaining continuity.

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  • Internal Candidates Considered: The Seahawks conducted interviews with at least four coaches already within the organization:

  • Justin Outten: Run game specialist

  • Mack Brown: Tight ends coach

  • Jake Peetz: Passing game coordinator

  • Andrew Janocko: Quarterbacks coach (also reportedly linked to the Raiders' offensive coordinator role)

  • External Candidate: Brian Fleury, tight ends coach and run game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, emerged as the chosen candidate.

Brian Fleury's Coaching Tenure and Experience

Fleury has spent a significant portion of his NFL coaching career with the San Francisco 49ers. His background includes roles focused on both offense and special teams.

Sources: Seahawks to hire 49ers' Fleury as OC - 2

  • San Francisco 49ers (2017-Present):

  • Tight ends coach (last seven seasons)

  • Run game coordinator (part of his recent roles)

  • Previously served as offensive quality control coach for two seasons.

  • Began his tenure with the 49ers as a defensive quality control coach.

  • Prior Experience: Fleury also had a stint with the Cleveland Browns, where he coached linebackers.

Offensive Performance Under Previous Coordinator

The Seahawks' offense demonstrated statistical strengths during the previous season under Klint Kubiak's direction, particularly in their rushing attack.

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  • Key Statistics (TruMedia):

  • Third in points per game.

  • Tenth in points per drive.

  • Eighteenth in EPA per play.

  • Run Game Emphasis: The team's ground game was noted as a strong suit, especially towards the end of the season.

Coaching Philosophies and Scheme Familiarity

While Fleury comes from the 49ers, whose offensive scheme is described as closely related to the one the Seahawks employed under Kubiak, there are nuances in his background.

  • Scheme Alignment: The reported similarity between the 49ers' and Seahawks' offensive systems under Kubiak suggests a potential for smoother integration.

  • Defensive Perspective: Notably, George Kittle, a player coached by Fleury with the 49ers, has commented on Fleury's unique perspective, attributing it to his earlier experience coaching defense. Kittle suggested this background could offer a different approach to offensive strategy.

  • Play-Calling Experience: A central question surrounding Fleury's hiring is the extent of his experience as a primary play-caller, as his public coaching profiles tend to emphasize roles like tight ends coach and run game coordinator.

Implications of the Hiring Decision

The decision to hire Fleury from a division rival, rather than promoting from within, could signal a strategic direction for the Seahawks.

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  • External Perspective: The hiring of an outside coach may be seen as an attempt to bring in fresh ideas and a different viewpoint, even within a familiar scheme.

  • Internal Candidate's Future: The status of the interviewed internal candidates, particularly Andrew Janocko, who has been linked to the Raiders, remains a point of interest.

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to hire Brian Fleury, the 49ers' tight ends coach and run game coordinator, as their new offensive coordinator, replacing Klint Kubiak who is now the Raiders' head coach. This decision comes after the Seahawks interviewed four internal candidates, including Justin Outten, Mack Brown, Jake Peetz, and Andrew Janocko. Fleury's experience with the 49ers, whose scheme is similar to Seattle's, suggests a potential for continuity, while his prior defensive coaching background may offer a new perspective.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who did the Seahawks hire as their new offensive coordinator?
The Seahawks hired Brian Fleury. He used to work with the San Francisco 49ers.
Q: Why did the Seahawks need a new offensive coordinator?
The old offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, left to become a head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Q: Did the Seahawks consider coaches already on their team?
Yes, they talked to four coaches who already worked for the Seahawks. But they decided to hire Brian Fleury from outside the team.
Q: What was Brian Fleury's old job?
He was the tight ends coach and helped with the run game for the 49ers. He has worked with them for many years.