In Thursday's introductory press conference for Seahawks new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, head coach Mike Macdonald reiterated the sentiment that the Seahawks wanted to keep as much as possible the same in who the offensive play caller would be.
Seattle found it in Fleury who, like his predecessor, Klint Kubiak, spent time under San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, learning his style of offense.
"I do think one of the advantages of taking this job is there is going to be a lot of continuity," Fleury said. "I've already started to dive into everything Klint was doing last year, and the goal would be to maintain as much of that as possible. There's also areas where we can supplement that and things that we've developed and done in San Francisco under Kyle that Klint wasn't there for or maybe didn't implement as much. So that's going to be the goal, is to keep as much as we can the same, but I think there's definitely areas where we can grow some different ways. We can challenge the players that they should be looking forward to when they get back too."
Fleury and Klint, spent time together in San Francisco in 2023. Fleury was the tight ends coach and Kubiak was the passing game coordinator, and coincidentally enough, quarterback Sam Darnold was serving as the team's backup quarterback that year.
"Sam's a great human being and I loved sharing the workspace with him," Fleury said. "We have a good relationship and I'm excited to help it grow and make it better."
Fleury's football journey started on the offensive side of the ball where he was a college quarterback, at both Towson and Maryland.
"Not a very good one," he joked. "I had some success in high school and then went to college and it was pretty clear early on that coaching was in my future."
His coaching journey took him to the defensive and special teams side of the ball, where he spent some time in the college ranks before moving on to the NFL. Fleury's 10-plus years of NFL experience was split between the offensive and defensive side of the ball, something he knows will work to his advantage.
"I was fortunate to work in a bunch of different styles of defense," he said. "So it just, it makes it easier for me to diagnose how the defense is operating, how they're built, where the cover structure is, and how it works with their fronts. And what that allows me to do is probably quicker than maybe some other people get to ways to unlock that, both formationally and then structurally and again, put pressure on them. So pretty complex."
In being a first-time offensive play caller, Fleury said his offense will resemble the one that helped Seattle become the No. 3 scoring offense in the NFL, saw Jaxon Smith-Njigba crowned as Offensive Player of the Year and saw an improvement in the run game.
"It looks very similar to the one that just won the Super Bowl," he said. "It's more about how you play and what you actually are doing schematically. We're going to be fast and violent and aggressive in every way that we possibly can, put pressure on defenses, both schematically and from a tempo standpoint, and just always have that type of mindset."
Fleury added, "There's a lot of talent. There's not many things to fix, quite honestly. They already play a way that's visible on the silent tape. You can see the culture on the film and so I'm excited to just work with that and continue to build it."
His wealth of NFL knowledge from all the stops he's made in the league, including the Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, and 49ers, have helped him develop for this opportunity.
"It's prepared me in a lot of different ways. You know, I've been fortunate to share a staff room and game plan with a lot of people that I'm going to be facing off against. When I look at the schedule, Daronte Jones, for sure. But Lou Anarumo, I shared a staff room with. Terrell Williams, Matt Burke, Vance Joseph, DeMeco Ryans, Robert Saleh, Aaron Glenn, Jeff Hafley, Anthony Weaver, Brian Duker. So, I had a lot of insight into what some of the opponents are going to be doing in those cases."
Fleury also had a three-year stop with the Miami Dolphins, though not a direct football coaching role, he said that experience was, "one of the most valuable three-year periods of my life."
"It was more of an analytics role, just studying league trends, game management, philosophy… Being freed up from [coaching] really allowed me to develop my own philosophy of how I would handle certain things. At the time I was a little bit frustrated because I wasn't dealing with the players directly but in hindsight, it probably was one of the most valuable three-year periods of my life, just from a development standpoint."
This will be Fleury's first time calling offensive plays, but Fleury doesn't see his lack of offensive play calling experience as a hindrance. And as Macdonald said on Thursday, "All play callers have to be first time play callers."
"I called defense and special teams at the collegiate level," Fleury said. "Have not called offensive plays, but I've always been preparing too. The thing about offensive playful to me is the preparation is done ahead of time. You're thinking through the situations and putting plays in a list format of when you get to the 2nd and one inside the 30-yard line, what are you going to call? And so, the preparation aspect of it, I've already done, and now it's just a matter of like, analyzing the information in real time and getting to the right play call on the sheet."
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seahawks' week in San Jose, including the win vs. the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium.
A huge crowd of 12s were on hand to see the Seahawks off as they headed to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara.
Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp wears a "We. Did. Not. Care." t-shirt as the team boards the charter headed for San Jose. The quote was originally said by head coach Mike Macdonald in response to a media question after the NFC Championship Game.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold waves as he heads to the bus after the team landed in San Jose for Super Bowl LX.
On Monday, quarterbacks Drew Lock and Sam Darnold walked into the California sunshine as they boarded buses for practice.
The Seahawks worked out at a nearby university in preparation for the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks "practiced" the extra-long Super Bowl halftime, and Seattle's defensive coaches gathered over strategy as they would on game day.
Seahawks Anthony Bradford, AJ Barner, Jacardia Wright, Derick Hall and Ernest Jones IV relax in the locker room at their practice facility.
Seahawks Derick Hall and Kenneth Walker III keep things light in the locker room before practice.
Members of the Seahawks linebacking corps Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall, DeMarcus Lawrence and Boye Mafe pose with defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
At Super Bowl Opening Night, Derick Hall and Quandre Diggs take selfies as the team prepared to meet the media.
Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba pose with fans at Super Bowl Opening Night.
A member of the media records an interview with Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III.
Doug DeKerchove Jr, a member of the team's equipment staff, readies the pads and jersey of Abraham Lucas in preparation for the game.
Seahawks receiver Cooper Kupp leaves no doubt as to his support of quarterback Sam Darnold as he met with the national media.
Seahawks defensive linemen Byron Murphy II and Jarran Reed relax in the locker room at the practice facility.
Offensive guard Abraham Lucas spotted the camera as he waited to get taped before heading out to practice.
Seahawks specialists Jason Myers, Michael Dickson and Chris Stoll walk underneath the palms as they head from the practice field to the locker room.
On Friday, Seahawks specialists Jason Myers, Michael Dickson and Chris Stoll were allowed to check out the conditions on the field at Levi's Stadium.
On the night before the game, Seahawks safety Julian Love and his son relaxed in a recliner at the team hotel.
On game day, Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and teammates make the ride from the team hotel to Levi's Stadium for Super Bowl LX.
The Seahawks enter Levi's Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday.
On the field, teammates Elijah Arroyo and Jaxon Smith-Njigba enjoy a moment during early pregame warmups.
Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo and a family member make a video call from Levi's Stadium.
Running back George Holani is greeted by Seahawks Legend Marshawn Lynch during pregame warmups.
DeMarcus Lawrence gathers the team before they take the field for pregame warmups.
Seahawks receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and teammates make their way from the locker room to the field on game day. The black drapes are covering San Francisco 49ers decor as the Seahawks used the home locker room for the Super Bowl.
Receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp sit at their lockers waiting for game time.
On the other side of the locker room, members of the defensive front including Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence, Jarran Reed and Byron Murphy II were relaxed as kickoff approached.
As they do before every game, the Seahawks joined hands in prayer.
Jarran Reed and Sam Darnold bring the team together before leaving the locker room for Super Bowl LX.
The 12s had no problem finding their way to Levi's Stadium and they dominated in both number and noise level.
Seahawks game captains, Cooper Kupp, Leonard Williams, Brady Russell, Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at midfield awaiting the coin toss.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall drags down Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for a sack.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is dragged down by the Seahawks' Nick Emmanwori.
Bad Bunny's halftime show was dotted with celebrity cameos including Pedro Pascal, Karol G, Cardi B and Jessica Alba.
Bad Bunny performs the Super Bowl LX halftime show.
Back in the locker room, the Seahawks offense paid rapt attention as coaches outlined second half strategy.
Receiver Jake Bobo stays loose as players stretched and moved during the unusually long halftime break.
Seahawks safety Julian Love returns an interception in the second half.
A pivotal moment of the Super Bowl occurred when blitzing Devon Witherspoon knocked the ball from Drake Maye, resulting in pick-six for teammate Uchenna Nwosu.
Devon Witherspoon celebrates his hit that resulted in teammate Uchenna Nwosu's interception in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu celebrates his pick six in the Super Bowl.
The clock reads 0:00 as Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald celebrates his team's victory in the Super Bowl.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald gets the traditional Gatorade bath after his team won the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots.
Mike Macdonald looks skyward as confetti flies after the Super Bowl victory.
Back in the locker room, the Seahawks kneel in prayer after the game, with the Lombardi Trophy front and center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon takes photos holding the Lombardi Trophy in the victorious locker room.
Seahawks running backs gather with Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and the Lombardi Trophy. From left are Velus Jones Jr, coaches Justin Outten and Michael Byrne, Zack Charbonnet, Walker, Jacardia Wright, George Holani and Kenny McIntosh.
Linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence, who came to Seattle in the offseason looking for an opportunity to win a Super Bowl, saw his wish come true and posed with Lombardi Trophy in the victorious locker room.
Seahawks safety Julian Love, who had an interception in the Super Bowl victory, cradles the Lombardi Trophy on the bus from the stadium to the team's victory party.
