Kris Richard Promoted to Seahawks DC: Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Seattle Seahawks didn't need much time to find a new defensive coordinator.

About a week after Dan Quinn officially left to take the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching job, the reigning NFC champions announced on their website the promotion of Kris Richard from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator.

The team also added Micheal Barrow, Lofa Tatupu and Brennan Carroll to the staff.

Few are surprised that Richard received his new role. Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio reported on Jan. 23 that he was also a contender to follow Quinn to Atlanta to become the Falcons defensive coordinator, thus heightening the need for Seattle to pull the trigger sooner rather than later.

Jerry Brewer of The Seattle Times felt it was a no-brainer for the Seahawks:

Curtis Crabtree of Sports Radio KJR in Seattle added that Richard already has the approval of his players:

Richard has spent the last few years helping morph the Seahawks secondary into arguably the best in the NFL. The Legion of Boom has wreaked havoc on countless quarterbacks and has been a large part of Seattle's back-to-back Super Bowl appearances.

Back in January, Sports Illustrated's Doug Farrar spoke to Richard about how it all came to be.

"That was a clear vision from coach from Day 1—that was a style we wanted to play, and there's a type of defensive back he knew was going to be able to play that style," Richard said. "These guys, they fit the profile. There's a profile that goes along with the style we desire. We knew the types of players we wanted to bring in, and here we are."

The Seahawks were forced to replace Gus Bradley once he took over the Jacksonville Jaguars. They hired Quinn, and everything worked out fine. There's little reason to think the situation will be any different under Richard.

He has the built-in continuity with the players and has more than proved himself with the organization.

Seattle's defense should remain among the best in the league once the 2015 season rolls around.