The Seahawks hired three more assistant coaches on Tuesday, adding John Benton as offensive line coach, Andrew Janocko as quarterbacks coach and Michael Byrne as an offensive assistant.
Those moves come two weeks after the Seahawks hired Klint Kubiak to be the team's new offensive coordinator, replacing Ryan Grubb, who held the job last season before a change was made because the offense, as head coach Mike Macdonald explained, "just didn't manifest itself the way that we expected. The offense, the direction that was going, it just wasn't the way that I wanted it to go."
Macdonald started the process of revamping the offensive coaching staff by hiring Kubiak, who most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, then those two went to work to bring two of Kubiak's top assistants in New Orleans with him to Seattle.
Benton, who has more than three decades of coaching experience at the college and pro level, worked with Kubiak in New Orleans last season as the Saints' offensive line coach, and before that he was the Jets' offensive line coach and run game coordinator from 2021-2022. Benton's long NFL career has included stops in St. Louis, Houston, Miami, Jacksonville, San Francisco, New York and most recently, New Orleans, including eight seasons in Houston from 2006-2013 when he was offensive line coach under head coach Gary Kubiak, Klint's father.
Last season, Benton's line dealt with multiple injuries, with nine different linemen starting games, but that unit still helped the Saints finish in the top half of the league in rushing yards, touchdowns and yards per attempt, while their 37 sacks allowed were fewer than the total allowed by 19 of the league's 32 teams. That line also paved the way for Alvin Kamara to rush for a career-best 950 yards on 228 carries.
Janocko also worked with Kubiak in New Orleans last season, helping Derek Carr complete 67.7 percent of his passes for 2,145 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games, giving him a passer rating of 101.1 that was the second best of his 11-year career, and the 10th best mark in the NFL.
Janocko previously was the quarterbacks coach in Chicago from 2022-2023, and with the Vikings in 2021 when Kubiak was Minnesota's offensive coordinator. Janocko's coaching career began in 2011 as a graduate assistant at Rutgers, then included stops with the Buccaneers as a quality control coach and at Mercyhurst University as a quarterbacks coach. He then joined the Vikings as an offensive quality control coach in 2015, kicking off a seven-year run in Minnesota that saw him work his way up from quality control coach to assistant offensive line coach to co-offensive line coach to receivers coach to, in 2021 quarterbacks coach.
Byrne, who played quarterback at Pacific Lutheran University, has experience both in coaching and football analytics, most recently spending last season with the Kubiak and the Saints as a coaching assistant. Prior to that, Byrne worked for Pro Football Focus as an analyst, and previously he held the title of director of football analytics at PLU.
Following his playing career, Byrne spent two seasons at Texas A&M as a football operations and offensive senior intern, working with Kubiak who at the time was kicking off his coaching career as an offensive quality control coach. From there Byrne went to West Texas A&M where he was the running backs coach, then returned to Texas A&M as a graduate assistant and assistant running backs coach. Byrne then spent one season as the co-offensive coordinator at Rudder High School in Bryan, Texas, and two seasons as the co-offensive coordinator at Vandergrift High School in Austin, Texas before returning to PLU.
Under Kubiak's leadership, and with the help of other new additions to the coaching staff, the Seahawks hope to find an offensive identity that matches what Macdonald is looking for from his entire football team.
"We want (the offense) to mirror our football team," Macdonald said in his end-of-season press conference. "All the things we've been talking about… We want our offense to be a physical unit and dictate terms to the defense, and play complementary football, and get the ball to our playmakers frequently in space, and let our quarterback play fast."
Take a look at some of the best photos from the Seahawks' 2024 season.
Seahawks Legends Marshawn Lynch and Kam Chancellor attend the Week 1 home matchup vs. the Denver Broncos.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 1 matchup vs. the Denver Broncos.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 1 matchup vs. the Denver Broncos.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21 celebrates during the Week 1 matchup vs. the Denver Broncos.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during the Week 2 matchup at the New England Patriots.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 2 matchup at the New England Patriots.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) gets the sack during the Week 2 matchup at the New England Patriots.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) during the Week 2 matchup at the New England Patriots.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) catches a deep ball during the Week 3 matchup vs. the Miami Dolphins.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 3 matchup vs. the Miami Dolphins.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during the Week 3 matchup vs. the Miami Dolphins.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) and linebacker Boye Mafe (53) during the Week 3 matchup vs. the Miami Dolphins.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) during the Week 4 matchup at the Detroit Lions.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9), wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and tight end AJ Barner (88) during the Week 4 matchup at the Detroit Lions.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during the Week 4 matchup at the Detroit Lions.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) during the Week 5 matchup vs. the New York Giants.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21), cornerback Tre Brown (22) and tight end Brady Russell (38) celebrate during the Week 5 matchup vs. the New York Giants.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) during the Week 6 matchup vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 6 matchup vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) during pre-game warmups for the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and the team run out of the tunnel for the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) prior to kickoff of the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and quarterback Geno Smith (7) prior to kickoff of the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrate a touchdown during the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) during the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) catches a touchdown pass during the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) returns a fumble for a touchdown during the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) breaks up a pass during the Week 7 matchup at the Atlanta Falcons.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38) leads the team out of the tunnel for the Week 8 matchup vs. the Buffalo Bills.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) celebrates an interception during the Week 8 matchup vs. the Buffalo Bills.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) prior to kickoff of the Week 9 matchup vs. the L.A. Rams.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 9 matchup vs. the L.A. Rams.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) during the Week 9 matchup vs. the L.A. Rams.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) during the Week 9 matchup vs. the L.A. Rams.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) catches a pass during the Week 9 matchup vs. the L.A. Rams.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 9 matchup vs. the L.A. Rams.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates a touchdown during the Week 9 matchup vs. the L.A. Rams.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) prior to kickoff of the Week 11 matchup at the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and the defense celebrate during the Week 11 matchup at the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) and punter Michael Dickson (4) during the Week 11 matchup at the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9), tight end AJ Barner (88) and tight end Pharaoh Brown (86) celebrate during the Week 11 matchup at the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) celebrates after a game-winning rushing touchdown in the Week 11 matchup at the San Francisco 49ers.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and safety Coby Bryant (8) during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) and nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) celebrate during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) celebrates a pick-six during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) celebrates a pick-six during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) and tight end AJ Barner (88) during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99), linebacker Dre'Mont Jones (55) and linebacker Derick Hall (58) during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) leaps over a defender during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) catches a touchdown pass during the Week 12 matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) prior to kickoff of the Week 13 matchup at the New York Jets.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) intercepts a pass during the Week 13 matchup at the New York Jets.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates a pick-six during the Week 13 matchup at the New York Jets.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) during the Week 13 matchup at the New York Jets.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the Week 13 matchup at the New York Jets.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8), cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the Week 14 matchup at the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) leaps over a defender during the Week 14 matchup at the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) catches a pass during the Week 14 matchup at the Arizona Cardinals.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) prior to kickoff of the Week 15 matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21), safety Julian Love (20), cornerback Josh Jobe (29) and linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the Week 15 matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during Week 15 matchup vs. the Green Bay Packers.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) during the Week 16 matchup vs. the Minnesota Vikings.
Shortly after Seahawks Legend Michael Bennett was honored by the crowd, Jarran Reed mimicked Bennett's signature celebration after a quarterback sack.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) during the Week 16 matchup vs. the Minnesota Vikings.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) makes this touchdown catch over the middle in the fourth quarter of the Week 16 matchup vs. the Minnesota Vikings.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) and Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14).
Seattle's Leonard Williams (99) celebrates after a stop in the Week 16 matchup vs. the Minnesota Vikings.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) prior to kickoff of the Week 17 matchup at the Chicago Bears.
Seahawks safety AJ Finley (30), defensive end Leonard Williams (99), safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2), cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21), cornerback Tre Brown (22), cornerback Riq Woolen (27) and linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) celebrate during the Week 17 matchup at the Chicago Bears.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) during the Week 17 matchup at the Chicago Bears.
Seahawks tackle Michael Jerrell (65) celebrates wide receiver Jake Bobo's (19) touchdown during the Week 18 matchup at the Los Angeles Rams.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) and wide receiver DK Metcalf (14) during the Week 18 matchup at the Los Angeles Rams.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20), safety Rayshawn Jenkins (2), linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13), linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) and safety Coby Bryant (8) during the Week 18 matchup at the Los Angeles Rams.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) celebrates a sack during the Week 18 matchup at the Los Angeles Rams.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) during the Week 18 matchup at the Los Angeles Rams.
