Seahawks Just Hired a Quarterback Whisperer From Washington, and It Could Change Everything
The Seahawks aren't done building out their coaching staff. Head Coach Mike Macdonald just brought in Jimmie Dougherty from the University of Washington, and this hire could be exactly what Sam Darnold and the offense need in 2026. Dougherty arrives as a widely respected veteran coach with over two decades of experience developing quarterbacks and designing passing attacks, and for a Seahawks team with two first-time coordinators stepping into their roles this season, his presence could be quietly huge.
A Lifetime of QB Development
This is Dougherty's first NFL job, but don't let that fool you. The guy has been grinding in college football forever, and his résumé screams steady progression. He started as a graduate assistant at Missouri from 2002 to 2003, working the offensive side of the ball. From there, he moved to San Diego as a quarterbacks coach from 2004 to 2006, where he helped develop Josh Johnson into one of the most productive passers in program history. He then earned a promotion to offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2008, running an efficient and aggressive passing offense.
His track record doesn't stop there. Dougherty was a wide receivers coach at Washington from 2009 to 2012, contributing to the development of Jermaine Kearse, who would later become a key piece in Seattle's Super Bowl run. He spent 2013 to 2016 as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at San Jose State, overseeing one of the most productive passing offenses in his conference. He also had stints at UCLA in 2017 as an offensive analyst and Arizona from 2018 to 2020 coaching wide receivers. Most recently, Dougherty returned to Washington in 2021 as quarterbacks coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator, a position he held during the 2025 season.
Experience Where the Seahawks Need It Most
Here's why this hire matters right now: both the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator are stepping into their first NFL roles this season. That's a lot of new at the top of the offense. Dougherty brings a seasoned voice who has spent his entire career immersed in quarterback development and passing game structure. He's worked with players who successfully made the jump to the NFL. For Seattle's offense to take a step forward in 2026, having that kind of experienced presence in the building could make all the difference.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.