With Klint Kubiak gone to coach the Las Vegas Raiders, Brian Fluery has stepped into the role of the Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator. Fleury is no stranger to the Seahawks, it's just come from the opposite side of the field, having coached with the San Francisco 49ers for the last seven years.
Now, he's jumped over to the other side of the field and will lead Sam Darnold and the Seahawks offense; Fleury's first-ever chance at being an offensive coordinator. Speaking of Darnold, under Kubiak in his first season in Seattle, a Super Bowl was the result. Now under Fleury, Darnold is looking to repeat, but also produce just as good a season as last, or better.
So, with this new partnership underway in Seattle, what can't be ignored is the number of OCs Darnold has had in his career, and whether that played a part in how his career had gone prior to the past two years. In that light, given that Fleury makes for Darnold's 10th OC, who were the ones before Darnold arrived in Seattle?
The nine offensive coordinators throughout Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold's NFL journey
New York Jets (2018-2020)
When Darnold was drafted by the Jets in 2018 as the third overall pick, expectations were high, and Jets fans all over thought Darnold was the one. He wasn't, when it was all said and done, and by the time the Jets decided to move on from Darnold, he was considered a bust.Â
Darnold had two offensive playcallers during his three-season tenure in New York, Jeremy Bates and Dowell Loggains. Darnold also had two head coaches with the Jets, Todd Bowles and Adam Gase, so it's fair to say that, even though Darnold was simply not good with the Jets, the coaching inconsistency didn't help him.Â
Carolina Panthers (2021-2022)
Again, a similar coaching situation followed Darnold to the Panthers, where he went through three offensive coordinators: Joe Brady, Jeff Nixon, and Ben McAdoo. Coincidentally, Darnold also had two head coaches in those two years.Â
Despite a brief glimpse of better quarterback play from Darnold in Carolina, it didn't last long. Again, as in New York, the inconsistent coaching changes did nothing to help Darnold develop. By the end of his Panthers run, Darnold had experienced five coordinators in five NFL seasons.Â
San Francisco 49ers (2023)
If there is a pinpointed time when the seeds of Darnold's eventual career resurrection began, it was with the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan. For the first time in his career, Darnold had an elite coaching mind to answer to, and despite playing extremely limited in San Francisco, Shanahan did a lot for Darnold's development.Â
Shanahan was Darnold's offensive coordinator and head coach with the 49ers, and there's no doubt he learned more than he had in the previous five years and gained the most experience despite playing the least. After Shanahan, Darnold's career really turned.Â
Minnesota Vikings (2024)
Darnold's career year; his best numbers, best production, best quarterback play, best success all happened in Minnesota for one season. Yes, it ended in a disappointing playoff exit, but Darnold's official career resurgence happened with the Vikings under Wes Phillips as the offensive coordinator.Â
Of course, Kevin O'Connell played a significant role in Darnold's success that season, but under Phillips, Darnold's best came out, and it would only get better for him after the Vikings moved on, a decision that rightfully drew significant critique and controversy.Â
Seattle Seahawks (2025-Present)
Taking the risk and not knowing whether Darnold's one year in Minnesota was a one-hit wonder or a glimpse of things to come was the risk the Seahawks were willing to take. A Super Bowl win is how that risk panned out, and today, the Seahawks have a franchise quarterback.
Kubiak was, of course, his player caller during last season, and Darnold had success, although his numbers weren't as great as they were with the Vikings. Yet, the decrease in numbers still led to a championship. Kubiak was Darnold's ninth offensive coordinator, and after Shanahan, is likely considered Darnold's best play-caller he's had throughout his career.
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