49ers fans throw water on Seahawks’ OC hire

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 23: Tight ends coach Brian Fleury of the San Francisco 49ers looks on before a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 23, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NFC West loses more than its fair share of assistant coaches every year to other teams. The Los Angeles Rams watched Mike LaFleur leave to join the division rival Arizona Cardinals. Klint Kubiak of the Seahawks and Robert Saleh of the 49ers also earned head coaching jobs.

But LaFleur wasn't the only coach poached within the division. The Seahawks also hired Brian Fleury of the 49ers as their next offensive coordinator to replace Kubiak.

There's no beating around the bush. Seattle's replacement of Kubiak was one of the single-most important coordinator hires in all the NFL this offseason. Defensive head coaches are almost certain to lose their OC after a stellar year. Whether they can find lightning in a bottle twice is a relatively large uncertainty.

It's for this reason why Seattle seems primed for regression. Their defense is as good as it gets. Sam Darnold still seems to be on unsettled ground even after winning the Super Bowl. What happens to the Seahawks when they don't have someone pulling the offensive strings as well as Kubiak?

That is nothing but positive news for the Rams, who may need all the help they can get to get over the Seattle hump. The latest two matchups between these teams were as evenly close as a series can get. Losing an edge at offensive play caller may be all the edge the Rams need to take the division in 2026.

And to throw gas on the fire, 49ers fans seem to mostly be scratching their heads at the Seahawks' hire:

Instant reaction to the Seahawks hiring Brian Fleury as their new OC. pic.twitter.com/P8ayZW24Nf

- Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) February 15, 2026

Cohn's right-Fleury never called plays. 49ers run game was 30th. But this proves my point: Seahawks are so desperate for 49ers coaching talent they'll take an unproven OC. They won the Super Bowl and still need a 49ers coach. That's how dominant SF's organization is.

- Brandon Fowler (@BrandonEFowler) February 16, 2026

Translation: Seattle missed out on Andrew who followed Klint and the 49ers now get to upgrade at run game coordinator and TE coach #FTTB

- SF Bay Sports Royalty (@SFSportsAndTech) February 15, 2026

I don't believe the Seahawks are making the playoffs in 2026.

Fleury has never called plays before. Their schedule is tougher than this season. Opposing teams will all improve in the off-season.

Let's see how it all plays out but this is a risky hire after winning a SB.

- NFL Commentary (@NFLCenterStage) February 16, 2026

If he was the run game coordinator for SF this year, I'm happy he went to Seattle. Bottom 3 in ypc with CMC and average OL (per PFF) isn't great.

- ShoupNSteaks (@shoup_n) February 16, 2026

One of the more under the radar aspects of Seattle's OC search is that they planned to hire within and interviewed four internal candidates before handing the keys to Fleury. One of the favorites for a promotion from within was QB coach Andrew Janocko. Janocko instead followed Kubiak to the Raiders as their coordinator. Did this throw a wrench into the Seahawks' plan?

With the entirety of the offseason still to go, the NFC West is again shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions in football. The Seahawks are riding high following their Super Bowl win. Losing even a little ground could be enough for the Rams or 49ers to take their turn at the division crown.

Was Seattle's hire of Brian Fleury enough to cause a shuffle in the NFC West standings?