Justin Outten was most recently a tight ends coach for the Tennessee Titans.
The Seattle Seahawks are focused on fixing their run game.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday that the Seahawks are hiring Justin Outten as a “run game specialist.” He didn’t say run game coordinator but perhaps that’s what he’ll effectively be.
The #Seahawks are hiring Justin Outten as run game specialist, per source.
Outten, the former #Broncos offensive coordinator, spent the past two seasons on staff in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/hI3HnHUAtE
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 13, 2025
That one year where Outten was former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator was Russell Wilson’s first season in Denver. Nathaniel Hackett called the plays as head coach right up until December, when he ceded duties to current Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. I think you know how well the Broncos offense performed that year.
Outten was a running backs coach and run game coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2023, with Tennessee finishing about league average in rushing yards and yards per carry, as well as 13th in EPA/rush but 26th in success rate (per NFL Pro). Coincidentally, the Titans had a very bad offensive line. He was retained by new head coach Brian Callahan in 2024 but switched to coaching tight ends, which included ex-Seahawk Nick Vannett.
The starting point for Outten in the NFL came in 2016 when he was a coaching intern for the Atlanta Falcons, which of course meant he got to work under the same staff as Kyle Shanahan during their run to an NFC Championship title. He was an offensive assistant for two more seasons before moving to the Green Bay Packers as tight ends coach for three seasons.
If you’re picking up a pattern, Outten focuses on the trenches. Even as a high school coach he was both OC and offensive line coach for Westfield High in Texas.
As noted by coach Mike Macdonald earlier in the week, no additional coaching staff departures are expected for Seattle, so Outten isn’t replacing anyone. We could also see another former Broncos OC in Rick Dennison join the Seahawks soon, as well.