Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson: My involvement in finding next OC is 'critical'

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said that it’s paramount that he’s involved in identifying the team’s next offensive coordinator, after Brian Schottenheimer was let go from the role earlier this week.

"I think it's vital,” Wilson told reporters on Thursday. “It's critical, super significant obviously that I'm a part of that process. Coach and I have definitely been talking about that. John (Schneider) too as well. We've had some super long dialogues about the thought process of who we want and kind of that idea of a leader, thought process, innovator, all that kind of different stuff that you want.

“I think that's a super critical thing at this point in my career to be able to (be involved).”

The Seahawks’ decision on Tuesday to part ways with Schottenheimer after three seasons, citing “philosophical differences,” followed the offense’s sudden collapse in the second half of the season — from the league’s top-scoring unit to a group reeling and unable to adjust to opposing defenses. Seattle saw its 2020 campaign end abruptly with a loss in Saturday’s Wild Card against the LA Rams.

Wilson acknowledged that he wasn’t “in favor” of moving on from Schottenheimer, saying that the decision was Carroll’s. But he added that he trusts his head coach and, ultimately, he’s in favor of whatever helps the franchise get closer to winning championships.

Wilson said that Schottenheimer deserves to be a head coach one day, and that whatever teams picks him up is getting a “tremendous coach.”

"I'm fortunate to get paid a decent amount, but coach makes those decisions.” Wilson said of Schottenheimer's firing. “"I think coach Scottenheimer is one of the best people I've ever known. One of the hardest workers. I think he's a tremendous football coach. I think he's going to help somebody's team and it's going to be a really amazing team. I think he should be a head coach one day."

"Was I in favor of it? No,” Wilson continued. “It wasn't my decision to change Schotty, but I think that coach Carroll made that decision. I trust his decision. What I am in favor of is our football team getting better."

Entering his 10th NFL season, Wilson said it’s “imperative” that he’s involved in the process of getting a new offensive coordinator because of how much time he’ll be spending with the individual and how his success, for obvious reasons, is tied to the relationship. Wilson said he’s already been in talks with coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider about being involved in the process.

Wilson will enter 2021 with his third offensive coordinator since joining the Seahawks, with Darrell Bevell (his OC from 2012-17) being the first.

“We've been able to talk obviously over the last three days about a lot of different things and everything else and really trying to figure, 'OK, how far can we go? Where are we going? What's the plan?' And all of that stuff,” Wilson said. “I think a lot of it is for me and coach to be able to hopefully partner on the thought process of the next person and that person being able to help impact this football, this organization, be a great coach for us and help be a part of leading us to the promise land obviously.”

And asked about Carroll’s comments earlier this week about the Seahawks needing to have more of a run commitment in 2021 — to attack opposing defense’s two-deep looks (Cover 2 and Cover 4) that Seattle struggled against in the second half of the year — Wilson stressed multiple times that the offense needs to focus on doing "everything" better, regardless of what opponents throw at them.

Carroll said Monday that the Seahawks “lingered in the glow of the first half of the season” offensively, needing to get back to the run game to force teams out of two-deep safety looks. In Wilson’s eyes, the Seahawks in his tenure were the best they’ve ever been when they were throwing it the way they were in the first half of the 2020 season.

Carroll and Wilson’s visions of what needs to be done offensively may seem to differ; the quarterback wanting to throw and the coach wanting to run the ball. But Wilson said that there hasn’t been any contention and that it seems like he’s on the same “wavelength” as his coach.

To Wilson, it comes down to just winning — regardless of how it happens.

"Whether it's one high, two high (defenses). It doesn't matter. We have to do it all,” Wilson said of the offense. “We have to throw it, run it, mix it up, challenge the defense in every way. Really, cause havoc in every way. I think that's what I'm really fired up about and interested about and looking for in terms of whoever we bring in. Let's cause havoc in every form and fashion of the game."

With the weapons the Seahawks have personnel-wise offensively, Wilson feels the best days are still to come.

“I think that in every game, there are moments in time. I call them game-altering plays, gap plays,” Wilson said. “That it’s just those one to two plays that change everything, change everybody’s perspective, even as players. That margin is what we’re trying to capitalize on, right? That gap. Those game-altering plays. I think that if we can capture those gap plays, those margin plays, I think the sky's the limit for us and we will be back to that 35 points per game and all that. So I don’t think we’re far off. I think we’re right around the corner. I think we’re right there, actually."

“I wish we could play this weekend to reestablish that. Unfortunately, we don’t get to.”