Aug 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Seattle Seahawks helmet on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Seattle Seahawks employ oodles of running backs heading into the summer, but why not add more? That’s the apparent message from general manager John Schneider.
Seattle signed a former Minnesota Vikings tailback Wednesday, Bryant Koback, who spent time with the purple team in 2022.
ESPN’s Brady Henderson tweeted the move, “The Seahawks added to their RB depth by signing Bryant Koback, the team announced. Koback spent last season on the Vikings’ practice squad after going undrafted out of Toledo. He’ll take part in this weekend’s rookie minicamp. Seattle’s 90-man roster is now full.”
Koback joined the Vikings about one year ago via undrafted free agency. He failed to make the 53-man cut during roster trimdowns last summer but did remain with the club on the practice squad for all of 2022. At age 25, he’ll get a fresh start with the Seahawks, trying to make Pete Carroll’s active roster as he sought with Minnesota in 2022.
He rushed for 4,206 yards and 45 touchdowns in 44 games at Toledo, an impressive statline for, well, anybody.
Koback’s main ‘problem’ as a rookie was the Vikings running back depth. Minnesota utilized Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu at RB, meaning no roster spots were available for Koback or anyone else. And this year is no different — probably why Koback wasn’t prioritized to re-sign. Minnesota has Cook, Mattison, Chandler, Nwangwu, and rookie newcomer DeWayne McBride on the current roster, an already crowded backfield.
In Seattle, Koback will hope to carve out a roster spot among these tailbacks:
It is unclear why Seattle needed more roster depth at the position.
Seattle ranked 23rd leaguewide in 2022 per rushing DVOA, so getting a full year’s worth of Kenneth Walker III and the rookie Charbonnet should help improve the mark. The Seahawks also re-signed quarterback Geno Smith to a three-year, $105 million this offseason, as the 32-year-old journeyman passer hopes to prove 2022 wasn’t a fluke.
Unless the teams meet in the postseason, the Vikings don’t play the Seahawks again until 2024. That game will occur at Lumen Field, which will mark four trips to Seattle in seven seasons for the Vikings.
Koback attended the same college as former Vikings RB Chester Taylor.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.