Former Vikings Coach Could Get the Almighty Promotion
The Atlanta Falcons fired general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris on Sunday night, opting for change after an 8-9 season and eight seasons of playoff drought overall. The club will now conduct a full search for replacements, and one ex-Minnesota Vikings coordinator will be considered for the head coaching position: Klint Kubiak.
Atlanta just blew it up, and Kubiak suddenly looks like a fast-rising name.
Kubiak is the current offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, but when his team’s season is over, he’ll lean full tilt into the possibility of joining the Falcons.
Falcons’ Coaching Reset Puts Kubiak in Play
Kubiak could be the Falcons’ next skipper.
Kubiak to Interview in Atlanta
The Vikings’ 2021 offensive coordinator will get a look in Atlanta’s interview process, and some consider him a frontrunner.
SI.com‘s Garrett Chapman wrote Monday, “According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Atlanta has requested to speak with Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver for their head coach vacancy. The Falcons can speak with Weaver right away, pending approval from the Dolphins, but they only have a short window on Kubiak since his team is in the postseason.”
“Since the Seahawks are the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and thus in a bye week, teams are allowed to make requests for interviews. It should be expected that he will get several requests this week. Kubiak, who is in his first season with the Seahawks, has enjoyed an exceptional season. His offense finished No. 3 in points per game and No. 8 in total yards. Sam Darnold had another fantastic season, completing 67.7 percent of his passes for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns and 14 interceptions as the Seahawks finished atop the NFC at 14-3.”
If Kubiak is the choice, the Falcons would swing the pendulum from a defense-oriented coach in Morris to an offensively-minded leader in Kubiak. That pendulum is real in the NFL.
Spotlight from the Seahawks’ Success
This is how it goes, folks.
The Seahawks are the No. 1 seed in the NFC and will enjoy a week off this weekend, waiting on the outcome of the NFL’s Wildcard Round to determine their opponent. So long as Darnold doesn’t crumble, Seattle has a clear path to the Super Bowl.
Teams that thrive in the regular season often get exposure for coordinators to pursue head coaching gigs. Kubiak is no different.
In fact, this is how Kevin O’Connell landed in Minnesota, though his 2021 Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl. We shall see if Kubiak and the Seahawks follow suit.
Offensive Rankings by the Numbers
These are the Kubiak’s offensive rankings per EPA/Play as the Vikings’ offensive boss in 2021, the same job with the 2024 New Orleans Saints, and this year’s Seahawks:
- 2021: 17th
- 2024: 25th
- 2025: 14th
Of course, his current team is thriving — Seattle’s defense is the top dog in the NFL — but overall, Kubiak has produced pretty average offenses. His name might carry a lot of oomph, as his father, Gary Kubiak, also a former Vikings offensive coordinator, has a sterling reputation.
Chapman also noted on Kubiak, “The 38-year-old playcaller has been one of the hottest names in the buildup to the 2026 offseason, and for good reason. Kubiak could be a fantastic option for the franchise to get the most out of Michael Penix Jr. next season, and is rightfully the first call from Falcons brass.”
“One other thing to keep in mind is that the agency that the Falcons are using for their head coaching search (Sportsology) employs former Texans general manager Rick Smith, who worked with Kubiak’s father, Gary, while they were together in Houston from 2006 to 2013.”
The Kirk Cousins Connection?
Too, Kubiak worked with Cousins in 2021 with the Vikings. Cousins has an inside track to remain with Atlanta this offseason while Michael Penix Jr. recovers from a torn ACL, and Cousins even said after Week 18 that he’d like to return with the Falcons in 2026.
If Kubiak is hired in Atlanta, keeping Cousins in 2026 is basically guaranteed. Some Vikings purists maintain to this day that Cousins’ best season in the pros was — you guessed it — 2021 when Kubiak coached him.
In short, the Falcons would not have to worry about trading or cutting Cousins this offseason. Kubiak would take the big job and cook with Cousins.
All told, Kubiak spent three seasons in Minnesota, serving as the quarterbacks coach in 2019 and 2020 — directly affiliated with Cousins in those seasons, as well.
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