Report: Packers’ OC Adam Stenavich interviewed with Seahawks

Matt LaFleur isn’t staying in the way between Stenavich and a play-calling opportunity

Buried in an article stating that Chip Kelly may return to the NFL as either the offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans or Jacksonville Jaguars, CBS’ Jonathan Jones reported that Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich has interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks for their offensive coordinator opening after firing Ryan Grubbs earlier this month.

This is the first that we’ve heard of Stenavich looking at outside coordinator jobs, but it’s not surprising. Previously, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has stated that he wouldn’t stand in the way of his non-play-calling coaches getting a play-calling opportunity — even though teams can block “lateral” coordinator moves. LaFleur went from the Los Angeles Rams’ non-play-calling offensive coordinator in 2017 to the Tennessee Titans’ play-calling offensive coordinator in 2018, which after one year turned into a head coaching opportunity. From his perspective, an offensive coordinator and a play-caller are clearly two separate jobs.

On Friday, it was reported by ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that Green Bay is expected to sign former quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy to a full-time coaching contract, in some capacity, this season. Getsy was LaFleur’s first choice to replace former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who left to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2022. When Getsy was given a play-calling opportunity as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator, though, LaFleur then pivoted to make Stenavich his new offensive coordinator.

In total, Getsy has three years as a play-caller under his belt: two as a coordinator with the Bears and last season with the Las Vegas Raiders, also as an offensive coordinator. When Getsy was let go mid-season by the Raiders, the Packers hired him to be a defensive analyst, a role in which he worked with Green Bay’s defensive coaches to attempt to reverse-engineer opposing offenses.

If Stenavich does leave, there’s a good chance that the Packers would consider Getsy to be their next offensive coordinator. If that’s the case, then Green Bay will need to look elsewhere for a quarterbacks coach. Earlier this offseason, quarterbacks Tom Clements retired. Getsy, along with offensive assistant Sean Mannion and assistant quarterbacks coach Connor Lewis, are considered potential internal candidates for that job.

The Packers have also interviewed at least one external quarterbacks coach candidate, Ashton Grant — who signed with the New England Patriots this week. Former LaFleur quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky has also thrown his hat in the ring for the quarterbacks coach opening.

It’s uncertain whether or not Stenavich is the Seahawks’ top offensive coordinator candidate or if Stenavich has only interviewed with Seattle. Before this report, all we knew was that Stenavich interviewed for the Chicago Bears’ head coaching position, which went to former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.