Seahawks Hire Devin Fitzsimmons, Expected to Add 3 Offensive Assistants

Rapidly putting together an impressive coaching staff, the Seattle Seahawks added much-needed experience on offense and special teams to work with first-time coordinators Ryan Grubb and Jay Harbaugh.

After introducing new coordinators Ryan Grubb, Aden Durde, and Jay Harbaugh on Thursday, Mike Macdonald and the Seattle Seahawks are swiftly filling out the rest of their coaching staff.

As the only move officially announced by the team thus far, the Seahawks have added Devin Fitzsimmons as a special teams assistant to work in conjunction with Harbaugh, who will be making the jump to NFL special teams coordinator for the first time. The Folsom, Louisiana native brings 10 years of experience in the league with him, including serving as the Panthers special teams assistant last season.

Prior to landing in Carolina on Frank Reich's staff in 2023, Fitzsimmons held the same position in Arizona, helping veteran kicker Matt Prater post one of the best seasons in franchise history with 137 points in 2021. Punter Andy Lee also established a franchise record averaging 49 yards per punt for the Cardinals in that same season.

Including five seasons as a special teams assistant in Detroit, Devin Fitzsimmons has spent 10 seasons in the NFL and will now team up with Jay Harbaugh coaching the third phase of the game in Seattle

Before going to the desert, Fitzsimmons spent two years at the college level as a special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Vanderbilt and five seasons with the Lions as a special teams assistant. His first NFL coaching experience came with the Colts, where he served as an offensive quality control coach.

"Super experienced, crazy smart, awesome football coach," Harbaugh said of Fitzsimmons joining the Seahawks. "Really thankful to have him aboard to be able to help in that transition.”

Away from Fitzsimmons, various reports have linked the Seahawks to a trio of coaches, including NFL Network insider Mike Garofolo reporting the team would be hiring Rams pass game specialist Jake Peetz as their new pass game coordinator.

The #Seahawks are hiring #Rams pass game specialist Jake Peetz as their pass game coordinator, sources say. Peetz, the former offensive coordinator at LSU, was a candidate for the #Buccaneers’ OC job.

Now heads to Seattle to join Mike Macdonald and Ryan Grubb. pic.twitter.com/UqcQ6h1Jwo

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) February 15, 2024

Well-traveled both in the NFL and college ranks, Peetz joined the Rams after a one-year stint as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at LSU in 2021. Prior to taking his coaching talents to Baton Rouge, he served as the Panthers running backs coach for two seasons, overseeing Christian McCaffrey's dominant season with a league-high 2,392 yards from scrimmage in 2019.

In addition to his recent stints in Los Angeles and Carolina, Peetz spent time with the Raiders, Commanders, and Jaguars, coaching quarterbacks in Oakland and holding an assistant receiver coach title in Washington. He also worked as a scout for Jacksonville before transitioning into coaching and spent two years on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama.

According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Seahawks plan to hire Jackson as their new receivers coach, replacing departed Sanjay Lal. The former Cleveland Browns wideout has coached receivers for five seasons in the league, including spending the past two seasons with the Steelers where he helped George Pickens erupt for 1,140 yards and a league-best 18.1 yards per reception in 2023.

Before joining Mike Tomlin's staff in Pittsburgh, Jackson served as Carolina's receivers coach for two seasons and spent one year with Tennessee in the same role. He also has been a receivers coach for several Division I programs at the college level, including Baylor, Temple, North Carolina State, Northern Illinois, and Akron.

Seattle also reportedly has landed a running backs coach with NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reporting former Raiders coach Kennedy Polamalu will join Macdonald's staff to work with Ken Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.

'On My Radar': Macdonald Details Grubb Hire, Offensive Expectations

Interestingly, Polamalu worked as a special teams coach at USC from 2001 to 2003 on former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll's staff. He departed in 2004 to become the running backs coach for the Browns and after one season in Cleveland, he accepted the same position with the Jaguars, coaching Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew to a combined three 1,000-yard seasons in five years with the organization.

Most recently, Polamalu served on Josh McDaniels' staff with the Raiders over the past two years, including coaching Josh Jacobs to a league-best 1,653 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 2022. Prior to heading to Las Vegas, he spent four seasons as the Vikings running backs coach, witnessing Dalvin Cook eclipse 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons during his tenure.