Seahawks face loss of top coaches to other teams

With so many head coaching vacancies in the NFL, some of the Seahawks’ top assistants have become prime targets to take over other teams.

Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, offensive line and assistant head coach Tom Cable, and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell have all interviewed this week for new jobs or are in discussions – Bevell with the Raiders and Buffalo, Quinn with the 49ers, Buffalo, the Bears and the Jets, and Cable with at least the Jets as well.

Given the Seahawks’ success, it’s likely one if not more will get hired elsewhere, says 710 ESPN NFL insider Danny O’Neil.

While all three have been integral to the Seahawks’ emergence as a league powerhouse, O’Neil says losing Cable would have the biggest impact.

“Not to diminish Quinn or Bevell, but Tom Cable is really the guy who has put together this rushing offense, who has worked with Marshawn Lynch and who has been able to keep the offensive line together despite all the injuries,” O’Neil says. “Cable’s loss would be a huge one to what Seattle values most, which is run the football.”

But the Seahawks success could also prove to be a roadblock to the coaches getting a new job elsewhere. NFL rules prohibit them from interviewing next week while Seattle prepares for its NFC Divisional playoff next weekend. And they couldn’t be hired until after the Seahawks season ends, which could be early February after the Super Bowl.

Teams traditionally don’t want to wait that long so new coaches can also put together a coaching staff and get moving as quickly as possible. But O’Neil wonders if some teams might want to rethink that given the Seahawks success.

“That is a challenge that you would be operating from behind if you have to wait until the beginning of February, but ultimately this position is so important that it’s hard to imagine there isn’t a team that would wait and say ‘this is the guy we really want, he’s worth waiting for.'”

Some fans might worry about the impact on the Seahawks next year if they lose some of their top coaches. But O’Neil says much like the Seahawks’ ‘next man up’ philosophy on the field, the same goes for the coaching staff.

“You’re not going to lose out by losing one of these guys, because the guys that step in are going to be equally ambitious and equally talented, and bringing in new blood can actually be incredibly healthy for a coaching staff,” he says.

Head Coach Pete Carroll wants his coaches to get jobs elsewhere and has always worked hard to prepare and promote them throughout his career, O’Neil says.

“He wants Seattle to be a place where they feel they get better and can move forward in their own careers, it’s one of his calling cards. He has a deep coaching tree across the nation and has shown a willingness to give young and up-and-coming coaches a shot.”

And winning Super Bowls certainly makes Seattle a prime destination for other top coaching candidates.

“It shows they are doing something right in Seattle and makes Seattle an attractive destination for other young coaches,” O’Neil says. “So there’s little reason to worry about losing one or several of your coaches, even if they’re coordinators.”