Pundits expect the Seattle Seahawks to potential add more free agents, especially at running back, before the 2026 NFL Draft. The Seahawks, though, aren’t done adding coaches to their staff either. On Friday night, Seattle added a new assistant with local ties — Jimmie Dougherty.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the Seahawks hired Dougherty as an offensive assistant.
“Dougherty, 47, coached at the college level the past 24 years, most recently as Washington’s OC and QB coach,” wrote Pelissero on X. “Now he stays in Seattle with the Super Bowl champs.”
Dougherty also coached at Washington as a passing-game coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2009-12. His second stint with the Huskies came from 2024-25.
The Seahawks opportunity will be his first in the NFL.
Seahawks Add Jimmie Dougherty to 2026 Coaching Staff
After two and a half decades at the college ranks, Dougherty will dip his toes into the NFL for the Seahawks.
The longtime college assistant began his coaching career as defensive backs coach at Illinois Wesleyan in 2002. He went to the west coast two years later to coach wide receivers at San Diego.
With the exception of one season at Michigan in 2016, Dougherty has remained on the west coast. In addition to Washington and San Diego, he’s coached at San Jose State, UCLA and Arizona.
Since joining San Diego, Dougherty has focused on the offensive side of the ball. The past five seasons, he’s coached quarterbacks and served as an offensive coordinator.
Dougherty played quarterback at Missouri from 1997-2001. Appearing in 14 games, he completed 50.2% of his passes for six yards per attempt. He also had four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Dougherty’s Experience With Jim Harbaugh
The Harbaugh brothers played a major role in the early career of Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. Working under both brothers, Macdonald has hired a lot of other former Harbaugh assistants on his Seahawks staffs.
Dougherty has ties to the Harbaughs as well.
“Dougherty has spent all of a coaching career that dates to 2002 in the college ranks. That includes the 2016 season as an offensive analyst at the University of Michigan under then-coach Jim Harbaugh,” wrote Seattle Times reporter Bob Condotta.
“Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald worked as an assistant under Jim Harbaugh or John Harbaugh from 2014-23 before coming to Seattle. A few other Seahawks assistants also have worked under the Harbaughs.”
Jim Harbaugh’s son, Jay, was also on the 2016 coaching staff at Michigan with Dougherty. Jay Harbaugh is the Seahawks special teams coordinator.
Seahawks Add Former Washington Assistant to Coaching Staff: Report