Fleury comes to Seattle after spending time in San Francisco, and one analyst thinks that one player could be set for a big year.
When a new coordinator comes to a team, changes are expected, and for the Seattle Seahawks, changes have come this offseason.
Klint Kubiak is now the head coach in Las Vegas, with former San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury now the one in Sam Darnold's ear.
With so many players praising what Fleury has managed to do at OTAs in making sure all players are on the same page, thanks largely to keeping the system and verbiage the same, albeit with a few new wrinkles thrown in, Seattle feels like it is in a good spot.
But the other thing that can happen with a coordinator change is that players get a new lease on life.
Whether that is what the new coach is asking them to do, how they are used/fit into the scheme, it can mean we see a different level of performance.
And for former NFL receiver Bryan Walters, who was a guest on Seattle Sports' Bump and Stacey, he thinks tight end AJ Barner could be in store for a big 2026.
“I think AJ Barner could be the Seahawks’ X-factor this year,” Walters said. “Just everything thrown in front of him, you know that he’s capable of making those plays.
"He’s going to be asked to do a ton in the run game. You know Brian Fleury is going to want to run the ball, but I also think with Brian Fleury’s tight end background, he could probably raise AJ Barner to the next level.”
Just two seasons into his career, Barner had a year to remember in 2025.
He posted 519 yards and 6 TDs from 52 receptions in the regular season and added 67 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl triumph.
The thing that likely gets Walters excited about Barner under Fleury is his work with 49ers tight end George Kittle.
Seen as one of the best in football, Kittle has been a Pro Bowler in every year under Fleury (2022-2025), when he was a tight ends coach, plus George has posted at least 600 yards and 6 TDs in each season under Brian.
Now, will Barner do that? Well, he nearly managed it last season, so the potential is there, but seeing a Kittle-like jump isn't fair.
But Walters is bullish on Barner under Fleury, and time will tell if the tight end takes a big jump in Year 3.
