Seattle Seahawks expected to promote Clint Hurtt to defensive coordinator, add Ed Donatell, sources say

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to promote defensive line coach Clint Hurtt to defensive coordinator, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

Former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell also is expected to join coach Pete Carroll's defensive staff in a senior role, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Hurtt, 43, has been with the Seahawks since 2017 and had since added the title of assistant head coach. He replaces Ken Norton Jr., the long-time Carroll assistant who was fired last month after spending the past four seasons as Seattle's defensive coordinator.

The Seattle Times first reported on Friday that Hurtt was expected to become Seattle's defensive coordinator, a role he has not filled in either college or the NFL. Hurtt was the only in-house candidate among the four reported to be considered for the vacancy.

Hurtt and the 64-year-old Donatell, who also was considered for the coordinator position and has a long history with Carroll, both worked under former Broncos coach Vic Fangio, perhaps signaling Carroll's plan to incorporate some of Fangio's popular scheme into his own.

Before coming to Seattle, Hurtt spent three seasons under Fangio with the Chicago Bears, serving as their assistant defensive line coach in 2014 and their outside linebackers coach in 2015 and '16. He spent the previous 13 seasons in the college ranks, coaching the defensive lines at Florida International, Louisville and Miami, his alma mater.

A source told Fowler that Hurtt had been in the mix for the defensive coordinator job with the Hurricanes, which has since been filled.

His hiring continues a pattern of Carroll tabbing one of his current or past assistants to run his defense. Dan Quinn, Kris Richard and Norton had also previously