From San Francisco to Seattle, a first-time play-caller is earning locker room trust through meticulous preparation and a calm demeanor while evolving a championship-caliber offensive system.
Brian Fleury hasn't called a single regular-season play for the Seattle Seahawks, meaning his most important evaluation is still several weeks away.
But his first test involved earning the confidence of a Super Bowl-winning offense that had little reason to embrace substantial change.
The Seahawks hired Fleury in February after former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. The opportunity represents Fleury’s first to coordinate an NFL offense after spending the previous four seasons coaching tight ends in San Francisco.
Players have already noticed what he brought with him.
“He’s obviously very studied,” tight end Eric Saubert said via the Moscow-Pullman Daily News.
And Saubert would know.
He previously worked with Fleury as a member of the 49ers in 2024 and reunited with him in Seattle last season. Beyond enjoying his new coordinator’s dry sense of humor, Saubert praised Fleury’s ability to understand every offensive assignment and explain each one clearly in the moment.
That skill may sound like a basic requirement for an offensive coordinator.
According to Saubert, it isn't nearly as common as one might believe.
Sam Darnold also entered the transition with some familiarity. The Seahawks quarterback spent the 2023 season in San Francisco while Fleury coached the 49ers’ tight ends.
His early assessment centered on consistency.
“Whether it’s a good play or bad play, his mentality never changes,” Darnold said.
AJ Barner used different language to reach a similar conclusion, describing Fleury’s daily approach as “straight business” and praising the expectations he establishes for his players.
An encouraging pattern has emerged.
Seattle’s new play-caller has commanded the room without attempting to become someone he isn't.
That matters because Fleury inherited an unusual assignment.
Most first-time NFL offensive coordinators aren't taking control of a unit immediately after it helped win a championship. Fleury must introduce his own ideas without unnecessarily dismantling what worked under Kubiak.
Head coach Mike Macdonald has encouraged him to bring that vision to life within the framework already established in Seattle.
The offense is expected to retain its outside-zone and play-action principles while allowing Fleury to explore different formations and introduce his own ideas to the rushing attack.
But will those changes work?
Training-camp praise can't answer that. Neither can Fleury’s preparation behind closed doors.
His ultimate evaluation will depend on the decisions he makes once opposing defenses begin adjusting to his offense and every play call carries regular-season consequences.
Macdonald has attempted to prepare him by repeatedly creating difficult late-game situations during practice. Fleury joked Tuesday that the offense always seems to be trailing by seven points with 50 seconds remaining and no timeouts.
Apparently ... someone keeps burning them.
The real pressure will arrive soon enough.
Until then, the early response from Seattle’s offense has provided Fleury with something every new coordinator needs before implementing his complete vision:
The players appear willing to follow it.
