Where Seahawks head coach search stands as openings dry up

Where Seahawks head coach search stands as openings dry up

The Seahawks have been in the thick of the NFL coaching carousel since the announcement that the organization had parted ways with longtime head coach Pete Carroll earlier this month.

Seattle is one of eight NFL teams that have had a head-coaching vacancy this offseason, with six of those teams now having hired their new leader. Only the Seahawks and the Washington Commanders have yet to select their next head coach.

So who might finally be tasked with following in Carroll’s footsteps? Here are some of the leading remaining candidates, as well as some other names who have not been reported to have had formal interviews yet but continue to be linked to the Seahawks.

Dan Quinn

The Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator was at the Seahawks’ facility in person for a second interview on Thursday and has been considered from the beginning as a top candidate to replace Carroll, ESPN reported citing sources. Quinn coached under Carroll twice with the Seahawks and has head coaching experience in his past with the Atlanta Falcons.

Quinn’s defense had a great regular season but got decimated by the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs. Quinn might be the most familiar with the organization among the current leading candidates, but many fans on social media haven’t exactly expressed optimism over Quinn taking over.

The Commanders are also expected to interview Quinn in person next week, so it remains to be seen whether either team will extend him an offer. Quinn harkens back to the “Legion of Boom” days and the Seahawks’ best teams of the 2010s, but also has come up short in some critical games, including the infamous blown lead to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.

Ejiro Evero

The Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator is reportedly scheduled to have an in-person interview on Saturday with the Seahawks. Evero has been considered a rising star for several years in the NFL coaching ranks, working as the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator in 2022 before taking the same role in Carolina last season.

Evero could be heavily pursued by the Panthers to remain as defensive coordinator after the team announced the hire of longtime Seahawks assistant coach Dave Canales as head coach. The Los Angeles Rams also are likely to make a run at bringing Evero back following the departure of Raheem Morris to become the Atlanta Falcons’ new head coach, as Evero helped LA win a Super Bowl.

The Seahawks very well still could choose Evero if his interview on Saturday goes well, but most reports seem to indicate he is likely to be a defensive coordinator once again in 2024.

Ben Johnson

The Detroit Lions offensive coordinator has been busy interviewing with just about every NFL team that had a head coaching vacancy, while also leading the Lions to the brink of the Super Bowl. He had a virtual interview with the Seahawks last weekend and could do an in-person interview next week after the Conference Championship games.

Johnson has turned the Lions’ offense into one of the most potent in the NFL and has been a highly-coveted head coach candidate since last offseason. The Commanders are also reported to have a huge amount of interest in Johnson, and it appears almost certain that he will end up with one of the two remaining open head coach positions.

He has faced the Seahawks in each of the past two seasons, with his offenses topping 30 points scored in each of the matchups.

Mike MacDonald

MacDonald is an interesting name in that the Seahawks have yet to interview him, yet many reports indicate that Seattle is very interested in bringing in the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator. Like Johnson, McDonald will be busy this weekend with a conference championship game but could come to the Pacific Northwest for an in-person interview next week.

The Ravens’ defense allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL in 2023, and Baltimore entered the playoffs as the top seed in the AFC. MacDonald is young for a head-coaching candidate at 36 years old but has a resume worthy of serious consideration.

The Commanders also have already interviewed with MacDonald virtually, whereas the Seahawks have yet to formally speak with him. It wouldn’t be surprising to see MacDonald and Johnson land the final two head coaching openings in the NFL, but MacDonald certainly excites Seahawks fans who miss the team’s dominant defenses.

Patrick Graham

The Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive coordinator did conduct a second interview with the Seahawks in person for the team’s head-coaching role, but there hasn’t been much reporting about Graham’s potential to replace Carroll in Seattle.

Graham has worked all across the NFL, including on the Patriots’ staff when the team beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. Given the talent he was working with outside of star rusher Maxx Crosby, Graham deserves a lot of credit for the success the Raiders had on defense in 2023.

New Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce will likely work hard to keep Graham in his current role to maintain continuity, as the two worked well together after Pierce took over as interim head coach following Josh McDaniels’ dismissal. He seems unlikely at this point to be named Seahawks head coach, but he made enough of an impression to earn a second interview with the organization’s top brass.

Bobby Slowik

The Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator was a late addition to the Seahawks’ first round of virtual interviews and is now no longer preparing for the next game after his team was eliminated from the postseason. Slowik is certainly familiar with preparing for the Seahawks, as he coached on the San Francisco 49ers’ staff from 2017-2022.

Slowik helped lead a stunning turnaround for the Texans in 2023, as the team went from having a top-5 draft pick to winning a playoff game and posting a 10-7 record. Slowik’s work with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in particular had many NFL teams hoping to see him work the same magic with their signal-caller.

If the Seahawks’ ownership plans to draft a franchise quarterback in 2024, Slowik could be the ideal candidate to develop that player. At 36 years old, Slowik would be another very young option, but one Seattle should strongly consider.

Mike Vrabel

One under-the-radar name that could end up with the Seahawks is Vrabel’s. After being let go by the Tennessee Titans, Vrabel interviewed with a few different NFL teams for head coaching vacancies but ultimately was not hired by any of the six teams that have chosen their guy.

Vrabel has a 56-48 record overall as a head coach and was the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 2021. He also has a strong background from his playing career with the New England Patriots, winning three Super Bowls while under Bill Belichick.

No formal interview has been reported to have happened between Vrabel and the Seahawks, but he certainly still could be brought in for an interview, especially as some other candidates accept other positions.