Seahawks interested in college OC for same role

New Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald has a college option in mind to become his offensive coordinator. Weeks after accepting an offer to become Alabama’s OC, Ryan Grubb could return to Washington.

In place as the Huskies OC over the past two seasons, Grubb is now in play to join the Seahawks, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports. 

Grubb agreed to leave the Seattle-based program for Alabama in mid-January, following ex-Washington HC Kalen DeBoer — Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide successor — after the Pac-12 school soared to the National Championship. No agreement between Grubb and the Seahawks has been finalized.

Grubb, 47, has climbed the ladder in recent years. Stationed as Eastern Michigan’s offensive line coach as recently as 2016, Grubb spent the next five seasons at Fresno State. He closed that tenure with three seasons as the OC for the Mountain West Conference program. 

Washington ranked 13th in Division I FBS in points per game this season, and QB Michael Penix Jr. led the nation with 4,903 passing yards. Ex-Huskies wideout Rome Odunze is on the radar to become a top-10 pick. 

The Seahawks are not the first team to look into Grubb, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who mentions the two-year Washington OC generated interest in the recent past.

While Grubb reversing course after starting work on the recruiting trail would be unexpected, coach backtracking is not exactly rare. 

Alabama has not announced his hire yet, and the allure of an NFL gig would certainly intrigue him. The Seahawks must interview at least one external minority candidate to comply with the Rooney Rule, and it would surprise if the team did not meet with multiple NFL assistants as it considers Shane Waldron‘s successor.

The Seahawks did not stop Waldron from leaving, allowing Pete Carroll‘s assistants to explore other jobs. Waldron and longtime Seahawks running backs coach Chad Morton are now with the Bears, with Waldron in place as Chicago’s play-calling OC. 

With Macdonald set to call defensive plays, Seattle’s OC post represents the top offensive voice in the building. It will be a critical hire as the NFL’s youngest HC begins his tenure.