Field Gulls

The Seattle Seahawks' Sean Desai has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator position. Desai, who is currently the Seahawks' assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator, was among the initial candidates interviewed by Minnesota. Desai has been an integral part of the Seattle defense since 2017, helping to build one of the NFL's top units. His decision to withdraw from the search likely signals his commitment to staying with the Seahawks for the foreseeable future.

The NFL Franchise Tag is a designation given to a player by their team that allows them to retain the rights to the player for one season. The Seahawks have used the Franchise Tag on several players over the years, including defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in 2020. The Franchise Tag guarantees the player a one-year salary that is the average of the top five salaries at their position or 120% of their previous year's salary, whichever is greater. This allows the team to keep the player for one more season while they work out a long-term contract.

The NFL coaching carousel is in full swing as the San Francisco 49ers have lost defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans to the Houston Texans and the Denver Broncos have hired Sean Payton as their new head coach. Ryans was a key part of the 49ers' defensive success over the past two seasons, while Payton brings a wealth of experience and success from his time with the New Orleans Saints. This move will have a major impact on the NFL landscape for the 2021 season and beyond.