Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson wants to comment on search for offensive coordinator

SEATTLE – Russell Wilson didn’t want the Seattle Seahawks to leave Brian Schottenheimer as the offensive coordinator.

He wants to have a say in their neighbor.

Wilson made the latter point known to coach Pete Carroll and reporters during a video conference Thursday.

“I think it’s vital, it’s essential, very important, obviously, that I’m a part of this process,” Wilson said. “The coach and I definitely talked about it, [general manager John Schneider] too. We had a … great dialogue about the thinking process of who we want, the leader … the innovator, all that different kind of stuff you want. I think that’s the super critical thing, obviously at this point in my career because you spend every day with this person … So many hours that Schotty and I have spent together, I will miss the guy because we have spent so much time together and worked so hard.

“The next person, whoever they are, it’s really essential that we’re on the same page all the time and still talking and vibrating and really, really on the same page.”

The Seahawks announced on Tuesday that Schottenheimer was out after three seasons, citing philosophical differences. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Carroll and Schottenheimer met on Monday night and mutually decided the separation was in the best interests of both parties.

“If you ask me if I was in favor of this, no,” Wilson said, choosing his words carefully. “It wasn’t my decision to change [from] Schotty. But I think Coach Carroll made that decision. I trust his decision. “

Schottenheimer’s departure came after the end of a bizarre season in which the Seahawks scored the most points in franchise history but fell sharply in the second half of the season. Their struggles continued last weekend when they lost to the Los Angeles Rams.

Wilson led the NFL in touchdown passes with 28 in the first nine weeks of the season while Seattle led the league scoring 34 points per game during that span. But Wilson has thrown just 12 touchdown passes in the last eight weeks of the regular season, while Seattle’s score has dropped to 22.6 points per game.

Wilson praised Schottenheimer as a coach, leader and friend, saying he has become close to Schottenheimer’s family.

“I think he’s going to be an amazing coach for someone else, for another team here, so I hope,” Wilson said. “I think he’s going to be a head coach. I think he has that kind of leadership ability. Unfortunately for us, I think in Coach’s eyes it was time to see if we could make a change. We were the best offensive players in football for the first half of the season. He played a major role in that. “

While Wilson has a specific name in mind that he’s hoping the Seahawks will hire, he hasn’t given many clues. When asked what he is looking for in his next CO, Wilson mentioned leadership, passion for football, teaching skills and the ability to find the strengths of the 11 players.