Report: Ryan Grubb leaving Alabama to take offensive coordinator gig with Seattle Seahawks

In the end, Ryan Grubb’s time in Tuscaloosa, well, barely got started. The former Washington Huskies offensive coordinator, who was expected to follow Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, is taking the offensive coordinator job with the Seattle Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Friday.

Grubb, 47, had yet to make things official with Alabama despite announcing last month he was leaving Washington after DeBoer was named the next head coach of the Crimson Tide, replacing the retiring Nick Saban. Grubb, however, had been on the road recruiting for Alabama ahead of National Singing Day. During a speaking event Wednesday, Grubb introduced himself as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.

Grubb was set to follow DeBoer to Alabama after getting passed over for the head coaching job at Washington. He made it known he wanted to be DeBoer’s replacement, but instead, the Huskies hired former Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch.

Ryan Grubb continues meteoric rise through coaching ranks

Grubb had been linked in the past week with Seattle’s offensive coordinator opening, a chance to join head coach Mike Macdonald’s staff. That will indeed happen, leaving Alabama without an offensive coordinator for the time being. For Grubb, it’s the next stop as part of a meteoric rise through the coaching ranks.

Grubb has spent the bulk of his career alongside DeBoer, coaching with him at Sioux Falls, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State and Washington. His success at Washington put him on the NFL’s radar. The Huskies owned the 13th ranked offense in the FBS this past season, which carried them to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. put up big numbers over the last two seasons in Grubb’s offense, and now finds himself as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Grubb will get to work in looking to improve Seattle’s offense, which ranked 21st in the NFL this season. There are certainly worse situations to walk into, as the Seahawks are loaded with young talent on the offensive side of the ball. Those include running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, receivers DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, to go along with veteran quarterback Geno Smith and veteran wideout Tyler Lockett.