Clint Hurtt was hired by the Philadelphia Eagles as the senior defensive assistant/defensive line coach in 2024 after spending seven years with the Seattle Seahawks (2017-23), including two as a defensive coordinator.
A coaching veteran with more than two decades of experience in the NFL and collegiate ranks, Hurtt directed a Seahawks defense that produced the fifth-most forced fumbles (31, tied), eighth-best sack rate (8.1 pct.), and 10th-most sacks (92, tied) in the league from 2022-23.
In 2023, Hurtt's unit featured three Pro Bowlers in linebacker Bobby Wagner, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and safety Julian Love. Wagner, a second-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press, led the NFL with a team-record-tying 183 tackles in his 12th season. Witherspoon, who earned PFWA All-Rookie honors, finished with the fifth-most passes defended (16) in the league while tallying 79 tackles, three sacks, and one interception returned for a touchdown. In his first year in Seattle, Love made 110 tackles with career highs in passes defended (10) and interceptions (four).
Leading significant changes to the Seahawks' scheme in the switch to a 3-4 defense, Hurtt's first season as defensive coordinator resulted in an improved pass rush, increasing Seattle's sack production from 34 in 2021 to 45 in 2022 (tied for seventh in the NFL). Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu and defensive end Darrell Taylor were the only pair of NFL teammates to each register at least nine sacks and three forced fumbles that year.
Under Hurtt's guidance, the Seahawks ranked third in forced fumbles (18) and eighth in takeaways (25, tied) in 2022. He played a key role in the development of rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen, who was selected to the Pro Bowl after tying for the league lead with six interceptions, which marked the most by a rookie in team history. Safety Quandre Diggs also received a Pro Bowl nod after logging 71 tackles with four interceptions.
Prior to being named defensive coordinator, Hurtt mentored Seattle's defensive linemen from 2017-21, including adding the title of assistant head coach in 2018. During the 2021 campaign, Hurtt's defensive line helped the Seahawks rank second in the league in opponent rushing average (3.8 avg.), while nose tackle Al Woods posted a career-high 50 tackles.
In 2020, Seattle's defensive line was boosted by the mid-season acquisition of defensive end Carlos Dunlap, helping Seattle post an NFL-best 37 sacks over the final 10 regular-season games. In 2019, defensive end Jadeveon Clowney ranked ninth in the league with 16 tackles for loss and scored two defensive touchdowns (one interception, one fumble recovery).
The Seahawks' defensive line in 2018 saw career years from defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who totaled career highs in sacks (10.5, third among NFL interior linemen) and quarterback hits (24), and defensive end Frank Clark, who recorded a career-high 13.0 sacks. In 2017, Hurtt's group was led by Clark (9.0) and defensive end Michael Bennett (8.5), whose 17.5 combined sacks were the fifth-most by a defensive end tandem in the NFL.
From 2015-16, Hurtt served as the outside linebackers coach for the Chicago Bears under the direction of Vic Fangio. In 2015, Lamarr Houston (career-high 8.0), Willie Young (6.5), and Pernell McPhee (6.0) were the only trio of NFL linebackers with six-plus sacks. Before working with the outside linebackers, Hurtt was Chicago's assistant defensive line coach (2014), when Young led the team with a career-high 10.0 sacks as a defensive end.
Preceding his career in the NFL, Hurtt spent 13 years coaching college football and worked with 14 draft picks. From 2010-13, he was Louisville's defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator, adding the duties of associate head coach in 2011. In 2013, Louisville ranked first nationally in sacks per game (3.3), total defense (251.5 ypg), rushing defense (80.7 ypg), and third-down defense (27.0 pct.), and second in scoring defense (12.2 ppg).
Hurtt came to Louisville from Miami (FL), his alma mater, where he was the Hurricanes' defensive line coach from 2006-09 and took on the title of recruiting coordinator in 2007. It was his second stint in Miami after first beginning his coaching career as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach from 2001-02 before working as a graduate assistant from 2003-04.
In between stints at Miami, Hurtt spent the 2005 campaign as the defensive line coach at Florida International, where he mentored Antwan Barnes, who became the first player to ever be drafted out of FIU.
Hurtt was a three-year letterman at Miami (1997, '99-00) before his career ended prior to the 2001 season due to injury.
Born on November 7, 1978, Hurtt and his wife, Tanisha, have a daughter, Taylor, and son, Clayton.
