The Seattle Seahawks’ top assistants spoke to the media for the first time in their official roles Wednesday afternoon. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, defensive coordinator Aden Durde, and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh gave insight on how their philosophies fit with head coach Mike Macdonald’s vision.
The most glaring fact between the three is that this will be their first stint in the NFL at their perspective positions. All three arrive with glaring credentials that swayed Macdonald into giving them their first chance in the NFL at their present positions.
JAY HARBAUGH SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR
Son of current Los Angeles Chargers Jim Harbaugh and former University of Michigan head coach. Jay spent the last nine years at Michigan as the team’s specials teams coordinator and worked with the safeties and running backs. The younger Harbaugh worked with the Ravens as the team’s offensive quality control coach from 2012-2014.
HISTORY WITH MACDONALD
Harbaugh and Macdonald have a history that dates back over ten years when they were both working for the Ravens.
“We had known each other previously in Baltimore, so we’ve known each other for quite some time, about 10 years. We’re similar in age and both guys are into football but have some other interests as well. He’s just a great person, really easy to get along with, and a guy that I kind of gravitated towards when I was in Baltimore with him.”
Harbaugh was asked about the difference between special teams in college and the NFL
“There’s a lot of differences, rule-wise, not only in terms of the gameplay and officiating and those types of things but also the structure of what you’re allowed to do and not allowed to do. The punt is the big one, in terms of who’s allowed to be downfield when the ball is punted. College is kind of just a free-for-all, and there’s a little bit more rigidity to the NFL system, so that’s one. Kickoff and kick return is the same way.
College has evolved a little bit and is probably following suit with some of the changes the NFL has made. There will be things that will certainly have to be different, and I’m thankful for having been in Baltimore and been around the NFL enough to have an idea of all those things of what works and what doesn’t work and all of that. Our assistant, Devin Fitzsimmons, who just came aboard, has about 10 years in the league, and super experienced, crazy smart, awesome football coach. Thankful to have him aboard to be able to help in that transition.”
ADEN DURDE DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
Following Harbaugh at the podium was Aden Durde who started his coaching career with the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 after a five-year playing career with the London Warriors. Two years Durde joined the Atlanta Falcons courtesy of the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship and stayed with the Falcons until 2020. From 2021 to 2023 Durde was the Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach.
NO PRIOR CONNECTION
Unlike Harbaugh Durde did not have a prior history with Macdonald before the interview
I didn’t have any connection, I just got a call about an interview and went to the interview, and it snowballed from there and we were rolling. Just met a great guy and we connected and had the same philosophy on a lot of things, and we were going from there.”
The interview between the two became something of a mind melt of similar philosophies.
“How the game’s played, how people try to create space in the game, where the down-and-distance situation is, how we attack the quarterback, how we make him uncomfortable, those kinds of things. Just talked about different things, in the run game; how we attack different places. It just kind of clicked as we were going through it. The conversation carries on and time goes by, but you don’t feel like time is going by. Then, you just know that you’re kind of with the right people.”
CHARACTERISTICS OF A DURDE DE LED FENSE
Durde was asked what will be the characteristics of his defense?
INNOVATIVE BALANCE
Last up on the podium was former Washington Huskies offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb who led the number one passing offense in college football last season . While he has no prior working history Macdonald the two met during last year’s NFL Combine
I met Mike (Macdonald) about a year ago. Started building a relationship and not with any necessarily end in mind, but just how the process goes in the football world, and I got to know him throughout a couple different conversations and just kind of built that relationship over time and kind of knew that potentially there’d be an opportunity like this down the line. Didn’t necessarily think it’d happen the very first year, but that was really the first part and just stayed in communication as Mike obviously had a great season as a coordinator for the Ravens and knew that his name would come up in some search opportunities, and luckily for me, he ended right here in Seattle.”
MUTUAL RESPECT
The mutual respect between the two turned into a relationship that now has Grubb calling the offensive plays for Macdonald.
“I think just respect. When you look at another guy and what they do on the football field, their creativity and whether it’s how you defend or how you attack, and when you look at that and you talk to a guy like Mike (Macdonald) and you see how just detailed he is, his ability to see the field and just I think there’s an instant respect there and you just dive into it both ways on the offensive and defensive side and I think that’s where it all begins.”
JUMP FROM COLLEGE TO PRO
As for the differences between college and the NFL Grubb said it is about awareness and detail in the NFL.
“Well, I think there’s the obvious the hashes, things like that are important, but I think the personnel-based scheme, there are some things that you have to be probably far more alert to as far as who’s on the football field, whether it’s base or nickel packages, the identification of personnel problems. You have those issues in college as well, but I think they can be a bit more prevalent in the NFL and then also I think the limited possessions. I think that part of the game’s a little bit different offensively.”
Grubb was asked if the Seahawk’s offense would be pass-heavy or balanced.
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