Field Gulls
The Seahawks are making another change to the coaching staff.
The Seattle Seahawks have a new offensive line coach to pair with their new offensive coordinator.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported on Monday that John Benton has been hired to replace Scott Huff, who hasn’t been announced as fired/leaving but it’s pretty clear that this means he’s not keeping that job anymore.
Benton has been an offensive line coach for almost 30 years between college and the pros. In the NFL he was Kyle Shanahan’s OL coach from 2017 through 2020 before joining Robert Saleh’s New York Jets staff in 2021. After his firing at the end of 2022, Benton didn’t coach at all in 2023 before landing the New Orleans Saints job in 2024. Benton has also served as OL coach for the St. Louis Rams, Houston Texans, and Miami Dolphins.
The Texans stint was his longest in the NFL and not coincidentally that was the duration of Gary Kubiak’s time as Houston’s head coach. Seattle’s offensive coordinator is Gary’s son Klint Kubiak.
Field Gulls’ own John P. Gilbert was on the money with his prediction last week:
Given where Kubiak has turned in the past in such a situation, don’t be surprised if Seattle announces the hire of John Benton in the coming days. In 2024 it took the New Orleans Saints barely a week to announce the hiring of Benton after hiring Klint, and the reason for the hire is Benton’s experience both coaching Klint’s system and working with a Kubiak.
Technically, prior to spending the 2024 season together in New Orleans Klint and Benton had never worked together, however Benton spent the 2017 through 2020 seasons as the offensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers under Kyle Shanahan. In San Francisco he helped develop guys like Mike McGlinchey and journeymen like Laken Tomlinson, but those aren’t the only linemen he’s coached up that Seattle fans will recognize.
Specifically, Benton served as the offensive line coach of the Houston Texans under Gary Kubiak from 2006 through 2013, where one of his biggest successes was the development from raw first round pick to three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Duane Brown. In addition to Brown the Texans also drafted and developed the like of Brandon Brooks, Ben Brown, Eric Winston and others.
As for Huff, don’t be surprised if he joins former Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb at the University of Alabama. Similarly to Grubb, Huff had no prior NFL experience before joining the Seahawks, and the early returns were enough for Mike Macdonald to make changes to his staff.
