Seahawks notes: Add two more names to OC search; Olsen announces retirement

The Seahawks on Sunday were linked to two more names in their search for an offensive coordinator — Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey and Rams pass-game coordinator Shane Waldron. They also learned that tight end Greg Olsen is officially retiring to become an analyst for Fox Sports.

Here are details on each.

OC search ongoing

The Seahawks are now 12 days into their search for a new offensive coordinator with no end in sight, evidence of the team’s reported quest to “cast a wide net” to find a replacement for Brian Schottenheimer.

That Seattle has interest in Dorsey and Waldron was reported Sunday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter stated the Seahawks have already talked with Waldron, as well as New Orleans quarterbacks coach Joe Lombardi (whose name was reported on Friday) and now want to interview Dorsey, whose season with the Bills came to an end with Sunday’s loss in the AFC title game, which might expedite Seattle’s pursuit of him now.

That brings the number of coaches reported to be on the list to interview, or to have already spoken with the Seahawks, to seven.

Others are former NFL head coaches Anthony Lynn (Chargers), Doug Pederson (Eagles) and Adam Gase (Jets) along with Raiders running backs coach Kirby Wilson. Wilson is reported to have talked to the team last week.

But the list of those available is decreasing by the day.

Schefter reported Sunday night that Lombari is expected to become the new OC for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Lynn was named as the new offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

And Pederson has been reported to be leaning toward taking the 2021 season off (he is under contract through 2022) and not working as an assistant.

That could put even more of the focus on the two new names on the list.

Dorsey played quarterback at the University of Miami — he was the Hurricanes’ quarterback when they lost to UW at Husky Stadium in 2000 — and spent six years playing in the NFL and another in the Canadian Football League.

He was the QB coach of the Carolina Panthers from 2013 to 2017 and has been with the Bills the past two years, at each stop working with mobile quarterbacks — Cam Newton and Josh Allen.

Newton earned MVP honors in 2015 when the Panthers went 15-1 and advanced to the Super Bowl while Allen had a breakthrough season in 2020, which has helped elevate Dorsey’s reputation in the coaching ranks.

The Bills were second in the NFL in total offense in 2020 and third in passing yards with 4,620.

Waldron, a native of Portland, has been with the Rams the past four years working under coach Sean McVay, and the past three as passing-game coordinator.

He also spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons with the Patriots as offensive quality control coach and tight ends coach and in 2016 was tight ends coach for the Washington Football Team.

The Seahawks know all about the explosiveness of the Rams offense since McVay arrived in 2017 and may be intrigued to add some elements of that to their own offense.

It’s also possible Seattle will consider current passing-game coordinator Dave Canales. Canales interviewed for the offensive coordinator job at Vanderbilt, and one report stated that he was offered the job but turned it down to stay in the NFL. Vanderbilt has since filled the position.

Olsen announces retirement

Olsen, who played in 11 games for the Seahawks last year with nine starts, made official on Sunday what had been expected — that he is retiring.

Olsen made the announcement during the Fox Sports pregame show before the NFC Championship Game while also announcing he is now officially joining Fox as an analyst. It had already been announced that Olsen would join Fox upon his retirement.

Olsen signed with the Seahawks last February to a one-year deal worth $6.9 million.

But a plantar fascia injury suffered Nov. 19 against Arizona helped derail his season as he missed five games before returning to make brief appearances in the win over the Rams that clinched the NFC West title and the playoff game loss at home to the Rams.

Olsen finished his one year in Seattle with 24 receptions for 249 yards and one touchdown.

The likely Hall of Famer played the first four years of his career with the Bears and nine with the Panthers. He finished ranked fifth all-time among NFL tight ends in receiving yards with 8,683 and receptions with 742, while his 60 touchdowns are eighth.

In an Instagram post Sunday, Olsen, 35, noted he wished there had been fans at his final game with the Seahawks this season.

“My ultimate regret was not being able to enjoy the end with my family,” Olsen said. “Watching the time tick down, in an empty stadium, knowing it would be my last game. Not having the ability to be surrounded by my loved ones. Not being able to hug them and thank them for a lifetime of love and sacrifice.”

The Seahawks will now have to do a little bit of work to replenish its tight end corps. They have Will Dissly under contract for one more year and Colby Parkinson, a fourth-round pick last year, is under contract for three more years.

But Jacob Hollister is a free agent as is Luke Willson.

Also this week, 2020 seventh-round pick Stephen Sullivan became a free agent when he was not signed to a futures deal off the practice squad. It was reported Friday he had visited with the Carolina Panthers.

Sullivan played defensive end in one game last year before going on IR with a hip injury. But Carroll said the plan was for him to return to playing tight end.