Football fans will be hearing Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s name bandied about quite a bit in the coming days. He has been a rapidly increasing presence on the rumor mills as non-playoff teams begin firing coaches. After leading a massive turnaround in the Seahawks’ offense this season, Kubiak will get phone calls.
He has been linked to the open New York Giants’ top spot, seen as a perfect coach to help guide the early career of Jaxson Dart. Now that the Cleveland Browns have parted ways with Kevin Stefanski, perhaps the Browns will come calling as well.
All these moving parts could mean Mike Macdonald needs to start worrying about his offensive coordinator in 2026. But weirdly, the Stefanski news may have provided Seattle with the perfect solution. Kevin Stefanski getting fired may result in Seattle’s 2026 offensive coordinator being none other than …. Klint Kubiak.
The Seattle Seahawks might need a replacement for Klint Kubiak
Smart men have gone mad trying to outguess what John Mara and the Giants might do. Do not bring up the name Dave Gettleman with your Giant fan friends.
But if you are Mara and tasked with finding the right coach to lead a team with several very intriguing young pieces on offense – Dart, receivers Malik Nabers and (possibly) Wan’Dale Robinson, running back Cam Skattebo, tackle Andrew Thomas …. – who do you choose?
Kubiak is certainly intriguing based on his lineage and his recent success. But Kevin Stefanski is a 43-year-old quarterback guru who already has six years of head coaching experience on his resume and two NFL coach of the year awards on his mantle.
What’s more, he has had some success – admittedly not in the last two seasons – in Cleveland of all places. That is where coaching dreams go to die. Stefanski may just fulfill that classic coaching trope made famous by Bill Belichick.
Get a little bit battered by your first head coaching experience and then move on as a wiser leader. There is no guarantee, but Kevin Stefanski might turn out to be a brilliant hire by whoever locks him up next.
If that is indeed the New York Giants, it removes the most likely destination for Kubiak. Other opportunities could certainly crop up. Other than Cleveland and New York, there are currently spots open in both Atlanta and Tennessee. Like the Giants, both clubs will be looking for someone to guide a young quarterback, and Kubiak could certainly be in play.
There’s a good chance a few other spots will open up as well, perhaps between the time I am typing these words and this article is published.
Klint Kubiak deserves a shot at a head coaching job, and there’s a good chance that he will get that chance one day. But Kevin Stefanski’s presence on the scene – despite creating an opening in Cleveland – may end up bumping the Seahawks’ coordinator down a notch on the list of hot candidates.
If that means he remains in Seattle for another season, building on the complete offensive transformation he has begun in 2025, it may end up being a minor personal setback for the coach, but a major plus for the Seahawks in 2026.