Field Gulls
The big hole at offensive coordinator has been filled, and now the Hawks will need to build out the rest of the coaching staff.
The Seattle Seahawks have their new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, so now attention will be turned to building out the rest of the coaching staff.
For a team that trotted out one of the youngest and least experienced offensive lines in the NFL in 2024, the logical next step is to ensure that the team adds an offensive line coach who can install Kubiak’s run game while also coaching up the youth on the Seahawks o-line.
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.
Putting all the pieces together, Benton has coached Klint Kubiak, has developed young offensive linemen into Pro Bowl caliber players and possesses a huge amount of experience coaching in a play action heavy Shanahan/Kubiak offensive system.
Meaning it’s likely more a matter of when the Seahawks hire Benton than if they will do so.
