The Seattle Seahawks had a straightforward path after Klint Kubiak left for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mike Macdonald could have promoted from a Super Bowl-winning staff to keep the offense in familiar hands.
Instead, Seattle went outside the building for Brian Fleury, a first-time NFL offensive coordinator whose name barely registered in the early stages of the search.
Months later, a new account of the process is offering a clearer picture of why.
In a clip shared Friday by Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team with Brian Nemhauser of HawkBlogger, the discussion painted Fleury as a true surprise candidate who quickly changed Macdonald’s thinking once the two met.
“I don’t think anybody, maybe even across the NFL, if you had said who are the top 30 people that the Seahawks might hire as OC, I don’t think Brian Fleury showed up on anyone’s list,” the analyst said.
“There was an easy path for Mike MacDonald which was, he had internal candidates. He had Justin Outten, Jake Peetz and Andrew Janocko.”
Then came the explanation that matters most.
“Brian absolutely blew him away.”
Fleury Emerged Despite Seahawks’ Internal Search
GettyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 08: George Kittle #85 and tight ends coach Brian Fleury during San Francisco 49ers practice ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Fertitta Football Complex on February 08, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)
Seattle’s internal options were legitimate.
ESPN reported in February that Macdonald interviewed four coaches already on staff: Outten, Peetz, Janocko and tight ends coach Mack Brown.
Outten had experience as the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator in 2022 and worked on Seattle’s run game during its championship season.
Peetz entered 2026 with a promotion to offensive passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Janocko had coached quarterbacks under Kubiak before leaving Seattle to become the Raiders’ offensive coordinator.
Promoting one of them would have provided a simple transition after an offense that finished third in the NFL in scoring and helped Seattle win Super Bowl LX.
Fleury presented something different.
He spent seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, beginning as a defensive quality control coach before moving to offense and eventually becoming run game coordinator and tight ends coach.
He had never been an offensive coordinator in the NFL or college when Seattle hired him.
Macdonald acknowledged after the hire that the Seahawks had strong internal candidates, but said Fleury’s philosophy aligned closely with the culture already established in Seattle.
“It felt like he was one of us,” Macdonald said in February, via the Seahawks’ official website.
That description makes sense given the latest account of Fleury’s interview.
Macdonald’s Gamble Is Beginning to Take Shape
GettyRENTON, WASHINGTON – JUNE 03: Head coach Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during practice at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on June 03, 2024 in Renton, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
The decision now moves from the interview room to the field.
Fleury inherited an offense led by Sam Darnold and reigning AP Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with expectations considerably higher than those facing a typical first-time coordinator.
His early work has drawn another strong endorsement from Macdonald.
“He’s been tremendous,” Macdonald said after Seattle’s July 27 training camp practice. Macdonald added that Fleury has introduced new teaching points in both the run and pass games while working within much of the framework Kubiak left behind.
That balance was a leading factor in the hire.
Fleury came from Kyle Shanahan’s system in San Francisco, giving Seattle schematic overlap with Kubiak while allowing a new voice to shape the offense.
The unanswered part is play calling.
Fleury has never handled that responsibility across an NFL season, something Macdonald publicly downplayed when the hire was made.
“All play-callers have to be first-time play-callers at some point,” Macdonald said in February.
Seattle could have taken the safer route.
Instead, Fleury apparently made the decision tough enough that Macdonald abandoned it.
Seahawks’ Brian Fleury Hire Gets ‘Blew Him Away’ Revelation Ahead of 2026 Season