RENTON, Wash. -- Whereas a segment of Seattle Seahawks fans wants the team to replace polarizing quarterback Geno Smith, new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak took the job in part because of the opportunity to coach him.
Kubiak said as much Tuesday during his introductory news conference at team headquarters, which marked the latest signal from the organization that it plans to stick with Smith as its starter in 2025.
Another one came last week from coach Mike Macdonald, who gave the quarterback his clearest endorsement yet. As Macdonald and Kubiak spoke to reporters for nearly 30 minutes Tuesday, absent were any comments suggesting the possibility of a change at the position.
In fact, Kubiak -- who was also in the mix for the Cleveland Browns' O-coordinator opening before they promoted Tommy Rees -- volunteered that the quarterback was a "huge draw" in taking the Seahawks job.
"Geno's a very aggressive player," Kubiak said. "Has a lot of production. Obviously, he's been doing it for a long time. He's overcome a lot in his career. I have a lot of respect for Geno. It was a huge draw to come here and be able to get to coach him alongside [quarterbacks coach] Andrew Janocko. We have high expectations for him. We're going to push Geno and get the best out of him, and we'll do that by pushing his teammates, as well. It's not just his show. It's a team thing, and he's got to be the head of that."
Smith's future in Seattle has been an ongoing question after his up-and-down play in each of the past two years as well as noncommittal comments from the organization early last offseason. With Smith entering the last year of his deal and scheduled to count $44.5 million against the cap next season, the two sides are expected to try to negotiate an extension. That cap charge includes a $16 million roster bonus due March 16.
Smith, 34, threw 21 touchdown passes last season but also 15 interceptions, with a league-high four picks coming in the red zone. With the majority of the offense on his shoulders as Seattle failed to mount a consistent run game, he broke his own franchise records for passing yards with 4,320 and completion rate at 70.4%. Smith also led four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, giving him nine over the past two seasons to tie Patrick Mahomes for most in the league in that span, according to ESPN Research.
"I think Geno's tough as nails," Kubiak said. "I think you look at the guy in the fourth quarter and he goes and wins football games. That excites me. That fires me up. I've watched his career, studying him now more than I ever have before, but you think about a guy that's been through a lot of adversity, a guy that's been knocked off the high horse and had to claw his way back into the starter's role. And then he comes back the last two years and wins more games in the fourth quarter than anybody in the NFL. That's a guy that I want to coach."
A meticulous decision-maker, Macdonald took his time in replacing Ryan Grubb, whom he fired after one season over philosophical differences. He interviewed at least seven candidates for the O-coordinator job during a three-week search, leaning on assistant head coach Leslie Frazier throughout the process while also involving some of his other non-offensive coaches for their perspective, including defensive coordinator Aden Durde and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh. In that sense, Macdonald called it a team effort to hire Kubiak, 37.
The son of former NFL quarterback and Super Bowl-winning head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint Kubiak went one-and-done in his two previous offensive coordinator stints with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 and the New Orleans Saints last season after each team fired its head coach. In between, he had a six-game stint as the Denver Broncos' playcaller in 2022 and served as the San Francisco 49ers' passing game coordinator in '23. Kubiak coached quarterbacks in Minnesota before his promotion to offensive coordinator and also in Denver.
Kubiak said Seattle's offensive identity will be running the ball -- something Grubb didn't do as often or as well as Macdonald wanted -- but that they have to be able to win in more than one way.
"As the process started to unfold, it became really clear that Klint was the best option for us," Macdonald said. "Really excited about it. ... It's Klint as the person, as a man of really high integrity, high character, passion for the game, passion for his players, humility. I just really respect Klint as a person. Excited for him to work with our players.
"And as a coach, just the scheme expertise. This guy has been around the game for a long time, well documented with his family, and I have so much respect for his brothers and for his father, Gary; I worked with him in 2014. But the passion for the game, the scheme expertise, the track record with the quarterback. Guys have played at a really high level every stop that he's been. The evolution of the scheme, too, and being able to fit it to your personnel. Klint has a really great vision for where he wants our offense to go. He was very clear with that with the personnel we have on our roster. We'll talk about it as we go here, but I definitely believe that aligns with how we want to rock."
Macdonald was asked how Kubiak's offense can help Smith, who finished 21st in Total QBR last season at 53.8, his lowest in three seasons as Seattle's full-time starter.
"I think there's a lot of clarity in what we're trying to do, there's a lot of detail," Macdonald said. "They've kind of lived through all the things that can happen to the quarterback, so it's very clean in terms of progressions. And I think there's an accountability factor for the whole football team. We've all got to play on the same accord. We have to be in the right spot when we need to be there. The ball needs to be out on time. The protection all works hand in hand. So it's going to take everybody, but it's a very clear vision and detail on how we need to get there."
Before Kubiak's news conference, the Seahawks announced the hires of Janocko as QB coach, John Benton as offensive line coach and Michael Byrne as an offensive assistant. All are following Kubiak to Seattle from New Orleans. Macdonald said a couple more coaching additions are in the works, and that everyone who is currently on staff will return.
Macdonald said the team is still working through whether Tyler Lockett will remain with Seattle in 2025. The second-most-prolific receiver in franchise history plans to continue playing into his 11th NFL season, but he's a likely cap casualty unless the two sides can agree to a reduced contract for the second straight year.