The Seahawks turned to a known opponent to find their next offensive coordinator, signing Shane Waldron, who has spent the past four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, holding the title of passing game coordinator for the past three years.
Joined Waldron on the move from Los Angeles to Seattle, Andy Dickerson, who will be the Seahawks’ run-game coordinator after nine seasons as an assistant offensive line coach for the Rams.
Waldron, 41, has seven years of experience as an NFL coach, also working with Rams coach Sean McVay in Washington for a year before McVay took over from Rams, and working with Bill Belichick in New England from 2008-09 as an offensive quality control coach and later on as a tight-ended coach.
“We are excited to bring Shane Waldron to the Seahawks,” said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. “His creative and competitive approach to the game will bring out the best in our players and coaches. Shane also brings great knowledge and insight into our division. His vision for the future, coupled with the caliber of the players in the attack, made him a must obtain for us . “
Waldron replaces Brian Schottenheimer, from whom the Seahawks parted two weeks ago, while Dickerson fills the vacant game coordinator position that opened with Brennan Carroll taking on the role of offensive coordinator at the University of Arizona. Waldron and Dickerson were teammates at Tufts University before joining as a coach. Dickerson, who was the oldest member of the Rams technical team, among other functions helped the Rams offensive line to be one of the best pass protection units in the league. Since McVay took over in 2017, the Rams have been in the top 10 in the NFL with the fewest sacks allowed for four consecutive years, including in 2019, when they gave up 22 sacks, and last season, when they allowed 25, tied for the sixth smaller. The Rams has also had a top 10 fast attack in three of the past four years, including last season, when it came in 10th place, averaging 126.1 run yards per game, despite not having a running back rush for more than 625 yards in the season.
“We are fortunate to be able to add Andy Dickerson as our racing game coordinator,” said Carroll. “He has worked with Shane for many years and that continuity will be an integral factor in the transition process.
“They, along with our team, will work to capture the many strengths that we have developed over the years and expand the explosive capabilities that Russell (Wilson) and the team have provided us with.”
Waldron, who also trained at Notre Dame, the University of Massachusetts and the Hartford Colonials at UFL, has never been a coordinator at the university or professional level, but has the endorsement of his former boss.
Asked about Waldron in 2018, McVay said: “He’s a phenomenal coach. He’s a great communicator. He has a rare ability to connect in an authentic and genuine way not only with coaches, but also with players and being able to correct in a way that doesn’t make the boys’ guards come. It’s all about solving problems and doing it together. He obviously did a phenomenal job, mainly as a leader for our attack, not just as a passing game coordinator.
McVay added that Waldron was “absolutely” ready to be an offensive coordinator. “I would be extremely disappointed, selfishly, if we lost him, but very happy if it was something he felt would be next for him and his family. There is no doubt about it, he is a great coach and he is certainly ready if is the next step he decides he wants to take. “
Although Waldron and Dickerson are sure to bring their own ideas to the Seattle attack, there are elements of McVay’s Rams offenses that should please Carroll, who at his end-of-season press conference expressed a desire to “play the ball with more effective “and also more frequently in 2021. Since McVay took over in LA four years ago, the Rams have had a relatively balanced attack that features a large dose of action passes, pre-snap movement, bootlegs and intermediate passes that take to after-catch opportunities for receivers and tight end