The Seattle Seahawks' offense has become one of the most efficient passing attacks in the league, with Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba dominating, and another impressive rookie emerging
10:00 ET, 02 Nov 2025
Klint Kubiak coached Justin Jefferson for three years, and sees similarities between him and a Seahawks receiver
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Klint Kubiak coached Justin Jefferson for three years and sees similarities between him and a Seattle Seahawks receiver
Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak compared one of his team's receivers to Justin Jefferson... but it's not Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Kubiak spent two years coaching Jefferson at the Minnesota Vikings, where he was the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, as the receiver began to announce himself in the NFL as one of the best at the position. Kubiak has since spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints before joining the new-look Seahawks offense, which made big moves to trade away Geno Smith and DK Metcalf while bringing in Sam Darnold and elevating Smith-Njigba to the No. 1 receiver — a move that has worked out rather well.
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And while Kubiak has been wowed from what he has seen from the leader of his receiving corps, he's been equally stunned by the play from his rookie wideout — their WR3 - Tory Horton.
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The Seahawks selected Tory Horton in the fifth round of the NFL Draft after he struggled with injuries that saw him fall out of Day 2.
In his first seven games in the league, Horton played a bit-part role as a receiver behind Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, but he has still managed to score four touchdowns while having 351 all-purpose yards.
When asked if Horton's start to the season reminds him of anyone else he coached, Kubiak smiled before responding: "Yeah. I’m not going to say his name. But he's had a really solid start to the season.
Tory Horton has four touchdowns and 350 yards in his first seven games in the league
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Tory Horton has four touchdowns and 350 yards in his first seven games in the league
"I’m proud of Tory. Not surprised with just the kind of kid that he is. The way that his parents raised him. He just has a great attitude.
"He’s all about work, he studies hard, and he has some great role models in that room. It’s a long season to go. No need for Tory to get the big head and he knows that’s why he's here. He’s just got a special character trait to him in that regard, so just going to keep pushing forward."
After being asked a follow-up question about Horton's development and the player of similar qualities he initially refused to name, Kubiak couldn't help himself.
He said: "Okay, well... it was Justin Jefferson in Minnesota.
"He was a really good rookie, and that's rare air. So he's got a long way to go to get there."
Kubiak coached Justin Jefferson in 2021 as the Vikings offensive coordinator
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Kubiak coached Justin Jefferson in 2021 as the Vikings offensive coordinator
Kubiak indeed coached Jefferson for two years as the team's quarterback coach in his rookie year before becoming offensive coordinator the following year.
He eventually departed the Vikings after the 2021 season, when new head coach Kevin O'Connell brought in his own offensive scheme.
Kubiak impressed last season with the struggling New Orleans Saints, bringing his wide-zone scheme to the Seahawks this year and getting similarly impressive results.
The team has seen Smith-Njigba look like the best receiver in the league, with 819 yards in just seven games — and on pace to break Calvin Johnson's single-season record.
If Horton can continue to emerge, as well as Cooper Kupp still playing a solid role, the Seahawks could emerge as legitimate Super Bowl contenders in what looks to be a wide-open NFC.
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