RENTON, Wash. — No one’s pounding the panic button.

But prove-it time is approaching for Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury.

Because after six weeks, the reigning Super Bowl-champion Seahawks are 3-3, with a widening gap between the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers (6-0) and everyone else. Seattle is sputtering despite a reliably dominant defense surrendering fewer yards than anyone in the NFL.

It’s not just that quarterback Sam Darnold has stunningly devolved, coughing up seven interceptions in his past four games. Or that Darnold has been sacked five times apiece in back-to-back defeats. Or that the running game has regressed without departed starter Kenneth Walker III, whose simultaneous ascendance in Kansas City only adds insult to injury. Or that Seattle’s supporting cast — Rashid Shaheed, AJ Barner, Tory Horton, etc. — has been befuddlingly underutilized. Or that Seahawks running backs have more lost fumbles (four) than rushing touchdowns (three).

One stick of dynamite does damage. A bundle this big could bring the whole building down.

Which is why it’s surprising, when asked about his offense’s lackluster performance in last week’s 17-14 loss at Denver, that Fleury said: “Obviously we didn’t get the result we wanted to, so everyone’s disappointed with that. But in terms of improvement, we’re still trending in the right direction.”

A surprisingly sunny Darnold added Thursday: “Really happy with where we’re at. Obviously there’s some things we have to get better at, and we’ve addressed those things.”

One way or the other, we’ll see Sunday night against the undefeated Chiefs.

Because it’s not just that Walker, who’s leading the NFL in rushing yards (665) and yards per carry (6.3), will be standing on the opposite sideline. Kansas City also sits second in scoring defense (16.6 points allowed per game), second in opponent red zone touchdown percentage (33.3%), fourth in opponent yards per carry (3.5) and fifth in opponent yards per play (4.8). Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is an established NFL game-planner and play-caller.

Fleury, in his first season as an offensive coordinator at any level, is anything but.

Which doesn’t mean Fleury is the wrong man to defuse this dynamite. In interviews, I’ve appreciated his transparency, accountability and clear communication. The longtime position coach has clearly earned the respect of his players and peers. They want this to work.

But the early results are not encouraging. Maybe that’s due, in part, to early injuries at running back (Zach Charbonnet and Jadarian Price) and right guard (Anthony Bradford). But in the NFL, injuries are inevitable, hurdles for a capable offensive coordinator to clear. The Seahawks are not inordinately injured. And as Charbonnet, Price and Bradford all near returns, it’s time to see sustainable strides.

Heck, given their defensive strength, the Seahawks don't need to miraculously morph into a scoring a machine. For a team that has lost three games by eight total points, via 10 giveaways, incremental improvement would go a long way.

But remember former Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who Macdonald fired after a single season?

Grubb’s 2024 Seahawks gained more yards per play (5.5) than Fleury’s 2026 Seahawks (5.3), so far.

Grubb’s 2024 Seahawks converted more third downs (37.6%) than Fleury’s 2026 Seahawks (32.4%), so far.

Grubb’s 2024 Seahawks earned more yards per carry (4.2) than Fleury’s 2026 Seahawks (3.9), so far.

Grubb’s 2024 Seahawks had a higher passer rating (91.5) than Fleury’s 2026 Seahawks (89.8), so far.

Grubb’s 2024 Seahawks gained 332.2 yards per game.

Fleury’s 2026 Seahawks have also gained 332.2 yards per game, so far.

Yes, it's a six-game sample size. But so far will work for only so long.

“Any time you’ve got people coming in from different places, myself with this offense, there’s a growth period that takes place,” Fleury said. “Mike [Macdonald] and I getting to know each other, and obviously getting to know all these players and trying to fit all the right pieces to the puzzle exactly where they need to be, it’s just been a process.

“We do feel a lot more aligned based on the ability to have these conversations over [last] weekend. And the direction we’re going moving forward, it’s going to be awesome.”

The problem? At 3-3, the Seahawks don’t have time for an indefinite growth period. An intended benefit of Fleury’s hire was supposed to be experience in Seattle’s existing system, which would hopefully flatten the collective learning curve. In the NFL, prolonged growing pains come with consequences.

It’s not just in Seattle. An eye-opening 21 of 32 NFL teams are breaking in new offensive coordinators. In LA, former Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s partnership with Jim Harbaugh for the 0-6 Chargers seems destined for midseason divorce. In Tennessee, former Giants coach Brian Daboll’s mentorship of former first overall pick Cam Ward is careening toward a cliff. In Denver, Davis Webb has already been relieved of play-calling duties. The New York Jets (Frank Reich), Philadelphia Eagles (Sean Mannion) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Zac Robinson) have similarly struggled.

As FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd said last month, referring to Seattle’s risky Fleury hire: “What derails greatness? In this league right now, [it’s if] you get the wrong offensive coordinator.”

I’m not saying Fleury is the wrong offensive coordinator.

I’m saying he better prove he’s the right offensive coordinator, starting Sunday.

“One thing that’s not happening in this building is nobody’s pounding the panic button because we’re 3-3. Everyone’s very confident in the football team that we have here,” Fleury said. “We just have to continue to grow in the right direction, and I think you will see that come to fruition over the course of the rest of the season.”

____

© 2026 The Seattle Times. Visit www.seattletimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.