In a move that highlights his close ties to the Seattle Seahawks, former assistant coach Dave Canales, now the head coach of the Carolina Panthers, is looking to his former team to fill a key position on his staff. Canales has set his sights on Tracy Smith, who served as a special teams assistant with the Seahawks, to be the Panthers' special teams coordinator.

Tracy Smith, the son of longtime Pete Carroll assistant Carl 'Tater' Smith, has been with the Seahawks organization since 2021. Prior to joining the Seahawks, Smith had experience with the Houston Texans, where he worked as the special teams coordinator in 2020.

With Pete Carroll stepping down as the head coach of the Seahawks, it is expected that many members of the coaching staff will seek opportunities elsewhere for the upcoming season. Already, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has joined the Chicago Bears, bringing assistant quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph with him to lead the Bears' quarterback coaching efforts.

Notably, there have been reports of interest in Seahawks offensive line coach Andy Dickerson for the offensive coordinator positions with both the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. Meanwhile, special teams coordinator Larry Izzo has reportedly caught the attention of the New York Giants, although no official interview has been reported as of yet.

Dave Canales' move to bring Tracy Smith from Seattle to Carolina showcases his desire to build a strong coaching staff for the Panthers. With the Seahawks undergoing significant changes and several coaches seeking new opportunities, it remains to be seen which members of the 2023 Seahawks coaching staff will find themselves in new roles come next season.

As Canales continues to shape his staff in Carolina, the addition of Tracy Smith would provide valuable experience and a familiarity with Canales' coaching philosophy. Panthers fans will be eagerly watching to see how the coaching staff takes shape and how it will contribute to the team's success in the upcoming season.