Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald made a significant hiring decision on Friday night when he selected a new offensive coordinator. Interestingly, the news first emerged from a local bar in Seattle. Just two days after publicly stating that he held the position of OC at Alabama, Ryan Grubb was seen having a few drinks with the Seahawks management after accepting the job.
The atmosphere at Dino’s Pub, a popular local bar situated near the Seahawks facility, was electric for Seattle fans on that Friday night. A social media user shared a blurry photo that appeared to feature Alabama OC Ryan Grubb, sparking speculation that he was indeed present and having dinner with the new head coach, Mike Macdonald, and the Seahawks general manager.
As we have witnessed in the past during coaching searches, the influence of a passionate fanbase can be quite captivating. Gradually, pictures of the group began circulating on social media, all taken at the same bar but from different angles. The initial uncertainty of whether it was Grubb transformed into confirmation that these individuals were celebrating his acceptance of the job.
Interestingly, it was not the media who initially broke the story of Grubb joining the Seahawks as OC; rather, it was the local fans in the area. Just two hours after the initial photo surfaced on social media, sources revealed that reporters picked up the news after several patrons of Dino’s Pub posted pictures of the Seattle brass at the establishment. It is evident that the Seahawks organization did not harbor concerns about being seen with their new offensive coordinator in public, as they sat openly among other customers.
Having served as the offensive coordinator under Kalen DeBoer during his tenure at Washington, Grubb faced a challenging decision regarding a potential transition to the NFL. Late Friday night, sources in Tuscaloosa disclosed that Grubb had engaged in discussions with individuals at Alabama, particularly Kalen DeBoer, and informed them of his decision to embark on an NFL journey.
The implications for Alabama are significant. The ever-revolving coaching carousel in college football now presents an opportunity for one of the most coveted assistant coaching positions in the country. DeBoer could opt for an internal promotion, potentially appointing JaMarcus Shephard and Nick Sheridan as co-OCs. Additionally, it is worth noting that this marks the second time Ryan Grubb has declined the opportunity to become Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Prior to Kalen DeBoer’s appointment, Grubb was courted by Nick Saban in early 2023 for the same role. Ultimately, he turned down Saban, choosing to remain at Washington and contributing to the Huskies’ offensive success, culminating in a national championship appearance with Michael Penix Jr. as quarterback.
Recently, Grubb had been actively involved in recruiting efforts for Alabama and even spoke at the Signing Day celebration in Tuscaloosa, where he declared himself as their new OC. Although the school did not release an official statement confirming the news, it is important to consider that Grubb had not been present long enough to establish substantial relationships.
In a day that witnessed Bill O’Brien’s resignation as OC at Ohio State to assume the head coaching role at Boston College, followed by Chip Kelly stepping down at UCLA to fill O’Brien’s former position on the Buckeyes staff, it is safe to say that nothing should surprise us anymore.
The newly appointed Seattle OC, Ryan Grubb, enjoyed a few beers with Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and the GM, as captured by Justin Monwai @J_mo7. The news of Grubb potentially joining the Seattle franchise had already been extensively reported. However, after a week filled with speculation and grand gestures, it was ultimately a group of individuals leisurely enjoying cold beers on a Friday night that signaled a change for fans in both Seattle and Tuscaloosa.
Indeed, the power of social media is astounding.
According to the Source outkick.com