Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock has accepted a position with the Seattle Seahawks as their running backs coach and senior offensive assistant, according to sources. The move marks a significant transition for Hammock from the college ranks back to the NFL, where he previously spent part of his coaching career. While full contract details and the official announcement have not yet been made public, the decision signals Seattle’s intent to bolster its offensive staff with an experienced developer of running backs and offensive game plans.
Hammock has built a reputation as a coach with strong ties to running back play and offensive structure. His background includes extensive work with ground attacks and player development, traits that align with the Seahawks’ long-standing emphasis on a physical running game. By adding the title of senior offensive assistant alongside running backs coach, Seattle is expected to draw on Hammock’s broader offensive expertise, including game planning, situational strategy, and collaboration with the coordinator and head coach on overall offensive identity.
The move also has implications for Northern Illinois, which will now face a coaching change following Hammock’s departure. As head coach, he oversaw all aspects of the program, from on-field performance to recruiting and player development. A transition at the top of the staff typically leads to adjustments in schemes, coaching responsibilities, and long-term planning at the collegiate level. Northern Illinois will need to determine its next steps, including naming an interim or permanent replacement and providing continuity for current players and incoming recruits.
For the Seahawks, Hammock’s addition fits into the broader reshaping of the coaching staff that often follows leadership or philosophical changes. As running backs coach, his primary responsibility will be overseeing the position group on a daily basis, from technique and fundamentals to pass protection, route running, and ball security. As a senior offensive assistant, he is also expected to contribute to film study, opponent scouting, and weekly game-plan design.
Hammock’s move underscores the flow of coaching talent between college football and the NFL, where experience at one level can inform success at the other. Seattle gains a coach with a history of working closely with running backs and coordinating offensive concepts, while Northern Illinois begins the process of reorienting its program in the wake of his departure. Further details from both organizations are anticipated once the hiring is formally announced.
