Field Gulls
New Seahawks offensive coordinator Klink Kubiak has stated his desired use of a fullback in 2025.
Fullbacks are back!
In offensive coordinator, Klink Kubiak’s introductory press conference, he stated that he likes to use 21 personnel (two running backs/one tight end) and 12 personnel (1 running back/two tight ends) and that he “certainly love[s] playing with a fullback.” Kubiak also mentioned that this would all come down to personnel and putting the best eleven guys out on the field, even mentioning current tight ends like Noah Fant, AJ Barner, and Brady Russell, or even the likes of Byron Murphy II line up at fullback. However, Kubiak’s usage of a fullback may ask for more than just bandaid options at the position, and rather could lead Seattle to look for a permanent player to play the position. Either way, this statement about fullbacks should bring great joy and excitement to Seahawks fans, that fullbacks are coming back to Seattle!
The Seahawks have a strong history of dominant fullbacks. John L. Williams (playing in Seattle from 1986-1993) helped block for Curt Warner throughout the late 1980’s and then earned two Pro Bowls for the Seahawks in 1990 and 1991.
After Williams, came Mack Strong who played fourteen years in the NFL, all with Seattle (1993-2007). During that span, Strong only missed four games, and helped block for three iconic Seahawks running backs (Chris Warren, Ricky Waters, and Shaun Alexander). Strong earned two pro-bowl nods in 2005 and 2006, as well as an All-Pro First Team honor in 2005 after leading the way for the 2005 NFL MVP, Shaun Alexander. Strong was so dominant, that he even was ranked the third best fullback of all time by Kyle Brandt. Lastly, Strong was a five-time Steve Largent Award Winner (2001, 2002, 2004-2006), the most times a Seahawk has earned the honor.
Only three years after Strong left Seattle, the Seahawks brought in Michael Robinson from the arch-rival, San Francisco 49ers. Robinson, who many of you know now for his post playing, media career, was the leading fullback for the Seahawks, and Marshawn Lynch from 2010-2013, earning himself a pro bowl nod in 2011. During his time in Seattle, Robinson was considered a leader for the team, having earned special teams co-captain status twice in 2011 and 2012, and helped lead the Seahawks to the Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos in 2013.
Other notable, more recent fullbacks for the Seahawks include Derrick Coleman (2012-2015), Will Tukuafu (2014-2016), Tre Madden (2016-2018), and Nick Bellore (2019-2023), although Bellore seldom played on offense.
In more recent years, the Seahawks have sparingly used a fullback, and when they did, they opted to lineup other skill positions in the backfield (Dareke Young, Brady Russell). In fact, Seattle has not rostered a true fullback since 2021 when Bellore was still rostered as a fullback (in 2022 he switched to linebacker as his primary position.)
However, now that Klink Kubiak is in town, who could Seattle bring in to...
