Report: Seahawks Expected to Add LB Coach Kirk Olivadotti to Coaching Staff
Adding more experience to new coach Mike Macdonald's first coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball, the Seattle Seahawks are expected to hire long-time NFL assistant Kirk Olivadotti.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, Olivadotti will leave the Packers, where he has served as linebackers coach since 2019, and take the same position on Macdonald's staff. The two previously coached together under Mark Richt at Georgia from 2011 to 2013.
One of the most tenured assistant coaches in the entire league, Olivadotti has coached 20 years with Washington and Green Bay, spending the majority of that time in the nation's capital. He began his NFL coaching journey as a defensive backs coach for the Redskins in 2000, eventually transitioning to special teams in 2006 before jumping to linebackers the following season.
Amazingly, Olivadotti lasted 11 seasons in a row with Washington, staying on the staff through the 2010 season with seven different head coaches keeping him on board. During his time with the franchise, he helped coach Pro Bowl linebackers London Fletcher and Brian Orakpo as well as Hall of Fame cornerback Champ Bailey.
In 2011, Olivadotti joined Richt's staff in Athens as the linebackers coach and spent three seasons with the program before returning to the Redskins for a second stint in the same position. He coached in Washington for another five seasons before teaming up with coach Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, where he has been on the staff coaching linebackers for the past four seasons.
With the Packers, Olivadotti has been instrumental in the development of young linebackers Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffee. Former Falcons draft pick DeVondre Campbell has also elevated his game under Olivadotti's tutelage, earning First-Team All-Pro honors in 2021.
Since signing the dotted line to take over for legendary coach Pete Carroll, Macdonald has prioritized hiring experienced defensive coaches to his staff. Along with Olivadotti reportedly coming to the Pacific Northwest, former Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier signed on as assistant head coach and secondary coach Karl Scott is expected to return after coaching under Carroll the past two seasons.
With a defensive coordinator vacancy still left to fill, the Seahawks have also been linked to Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen, who coached with Macdonald for five seasons in Baltimore. So far, the team has hired Frazier, Scott, and special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh, who previously coached at Michigan, while offensive coordinator and several other positions remain open.
