The Seattle Seahawks hired Pete Carroll as head coach just over two weeks ago. They are now one of only two teams, along with the Washington Commanders, that have yet to hire a coach.
Less than two weeks ago, Seattle was one of eight teams with a head coaching vacancy. But on Thursday, six teams, including Atlanta and Los Angeles, hired new coaches.
So why is the Seahawks‘ coach search taking so long? Former Hawks coach, safety analyst, and current radio broadcaster Paul Moyer spoke with Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob on Thursday. We talked about the matter.
“I’m surprised (general manager John Schneider) waited this long, maybe not surprised, but it means (the next coach) is still in the playoffs,” Moyer said…
There are only four teams left in the playoffs, and the Seahawks have reportedly met with one of those teams’ coaches, Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
Seattle Seahawks Pursuit:
Seattle has also expressed interest in talks with Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike McDonald, but with the Ravens aiming to advance to the first round of the playoffs and the Seahawks making coaching changes, the two teams are unlikely to meet. I haven’t been able to do that. That can’t happen until the Ravens make the playoffs, but it could happen this Sunday or in the Super Bowl.
Moyer asked host Wyman and Bob Dave Wyman, a former NFL quarterback and current Seahawks radio commentator, if they were surprised the Seahawks didn’t make a deal.
“No, the wait was long and (Schneider) didn’t do it because he thought it would take a long time,” Wyman said.
When he began his search, Wyman thought the Seahawks would make a quick move.
“I thought the reason we let Pete go a year before his contract expired was because we had someone there and the window was closing, and we needed to get him now,” he said. “That’s not a problem at all, they will actually conduct a thorough interview process.
“I have one thing to worry about. It took so long that there was a man I wanted, but is he no longer around?” Then Wyman said, “That makes me think (their top targets are still available) and maybe it’s a dark possibility, or the possibility that someone on one of these teams we’re waiting for will be eliminated (from the playoffs).”
Recognition with Quinn
The search will take more than two weeks, so Moyer doesn’t expect a strong candidate to take the job in Seattle.
“I mean, Dan Quinn, Dan would think it would be easy,” Moyer said.
Quinn, a former Seahawks defensive coordinator under Carroll, just completed his third year on Dallas’ defense. The Cowboys were eliminated from the playoffs, and the Seahawks interviewed Quinn twice. He’s also a strong candidate in Washington.
If Quinn is hired by Seattle or Washington this offseason, it would be his second head coaching job. He coached Atlanta from 2015 to 2020.
“I think if a guy (Schneider) wants it, it’s going to be a rental, right?” Moyer said.
Quinn helped make the Cowboys’ defense one of the best in the NFL in recent years, but the Cowboys lost 48-32 to Green Bay in the wild card round. That changed his perception of Quinn, Moyer said.
“That’s a very strange idea, isn’t it? I mean, before (Dallas) played in Green Bay, Dunn was that guy. Absolutely,” Moyer said, “I mean, everywhere you go, especially defensively. I mean, there’s a guy who’s always going to be successful in Atlanta, like the Seahawks. If they win the Super Bowl, what’s going to happen to his career? What happened in Atlanta?”
Moyer considers Quinn a good coach and teacher.
“When I walk into a room and I hear him in the movie talking about something that’s going on on the show, I go, ‘Oh, he’s a great guy.’ I really respect him.” , the realization was, “Why are they daring to attack Green Bay, maybe he’s not the right guy,” he said.
Moyer still believes Quinn will be a good employee, but he doesn’t believe that will happen.
“It seems like he’s been going on for so long that I don’t know if he’s going to be the right person,” he said.
People who love Moyer:
Moyer said he is interested in the possibility of former Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel joining the Seahawks.
“As a CEO, I think that’s exciting,” he said.
But Moyer said there’s a good chance the Seahawks’ next coach will make the playoffs, and he likes what he’s read and heard about McDonald in Baltimore.
“Everything I’ve read about this Mike McDonald, there’s something very special about him,” Moyer said. “…If you want someone that young, that person needs to be very unique and have that ‘it’ factor when they walk into the room. And everything I’ve read about this guy is , that he has it.”
“But I was surprised (that the investigation was still ongoing),” Moyer said later. “We’re getting older and I’m worried about assistant coaches and staff leaving (for other teams), but I’m confident John will make the right decision.”
