Changes For Seahawks

Following the devastating loss in this year’s Super Bowl 49, the Seahawks found themselves without the services of coordinator Dan Quinn and linebacker coach Ken Norton Junior.

They found themselves in a situation and had to make quick adjustments so as not to lose out on anyone else and replace them with Kris Richard and Micheal Barrow.

Both Lofa Tatupu and Brennan Carroll also were added to the coaching staff and are a welcome addition for the Seahawks.

When the Seahawks selected Kris Richard in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft, he knew what lay ahead for him and his career.

Richard was named the team’s defensive coordinator taking over for Dan Quinn, who became the Head Coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Richard told the media “I’m humbled by the whole entire experience and truly grateful.”

He held the position of defensive backs coach the past three seasons after serving as defensive backs/cornerbacks coach and assistant defensive backs coach for one season each on Coach Pete Carroll’s staff.

Richard (35) inherits a defense that has led the NFL in average points allowed the past three seasons and in average yards allowed the past two seasons.

Micheal Barrow was named linebackers coach, taking over for Ken Norton, Jr., who has become defensive coordinator of Oakland Raiders.

Brennan Carroll (Carroll’s oldest son) was hired as assistant offensive line coach; and former Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu was named assistant linebackers coach.

Barrow has been the linebackers coach at the University of Miami the past eight seasons.

He was an All-American linebacker for the Hurricanes prior to playing 13 seasons (NFL) with the Houston Oilers (1993-96), New York Giants (2000-03), Washington Redskins (2004) and Dallas Cowboys (2005).

Barrow had managed to grab a total of 1,125 tackles, that included 43 sacks, during his NFL career, which impressed everyone.

Tatupu is the only player in Seahawks’ history to lead the team in tackles for a total of four consecutive seasons that range from 2005 to 2008.

He played for Carroll at the University of Southern California, but injuries ended his career with the Seahawks after the 2010 season.

Tatupu was voted to the Pro Bowl three times and also to the Seahawks’ 35^th Anniversary team.

Brennan Carroll also has been at Miami the past four seasons, first as tight ends coach, then as wide receivers coach and all four as national recruiting coordinator.

In addition he coached on his father’s staff at USC, as an offensive assistant (2002-03), tight ends coach (2004-06) and tight ends/recruiting coordinator (2007-10).

Richard played for Carroll at USC and then joined his staff in 2008, before following him to Seattle.

The promotion of Richard and returns for Tatupu and Carroll bring continuity to a defense that has lost two coordinators in the past three seasons.

First Gus Bradley, who left after the 2012 season to become head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars; and now Quinn – as well as the undeniable presence of Norton.