Homecoming? Seahawks Set to Hire Greg Olson as New QB Coach
Wasting little time finding a quality successor for departing quarterbacks coach Dave Canales, Greg Olson is coming back home as a new member of Pete Carroll's staff with the Seattle Seahawks, multiple sources tell AllSeahawks.com.
Olsen arrived at Seattle's team facility on Monday to finalize details on a contract to succeed Canales, who left to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as offensive coordinator last Wednesday. Reports of his expected hiring first came from Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
Before launching a coaching career in the NFL and at the college level spanning more than 30 years, Olsen starred at Richland High School and Central Washington University, where he threw 12 touchdown passes in two seasons for the Wildcats. After his collegiate career ended, he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant at Washington State before returning to his alma mater in Ellensburg and coaching Jon Kitna, who eventually became a starting quarterback for the Seahawks.
Putting his name on the map developing an NAIA quarterback into an NFL prospect, Olson left Washington in 1994 and became Idaho's quarterback coach. After three seasons with the program, he joined legendary coach Joe Tiller's staff at Purdue as a quarterback coach and developed Drew Brees, who went on enjoy a Hall of Fame NFL career with the Chargers and Saints.
Bouncing around with several NFL organizations over the past 20-plus years, Olson will return to the Pacific Northwest offering immense experience with 14 seasons as an offensive coordinator with the Lions, Rams, Buccaneers, Jaguars, and most recently the Raiders on his resume. One of his most impressive accomplishments as a play caller came in Tampa Bay in 2010 when then-second year quarterback Josh Freeman threw 25 touchdowns and only six interceptions for a 10-win team.
Olson also served as a quarterbacks coach for the 49ers, Bears, Buccaneers, and Rams, most recently helping Jared Goff throw for 28 touchdowns and only seven interceptions in 2017 while guiding the Rams to the Super Bowl.
Though Olsen has never worked for Carroll, he spent two seasons under coach Sean McVay in Los Angeles, including as a senior offensive assistant last season. Coupled with his wealth of experience learning from coach Jon Gruden, his familiarity with McVay's scheme and previous time coaching alongside offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson should pave the way for an easy transition in Seattle.
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