Northern Illinois Coach Thomas Hammock’s Surprising NFL Leap Sends Shockwaves Through College Football!
You can feel the shifting tides in college football coaching — and Northern Illinois just became a chief example. Thomas Hammock, the man steering the Huskies’ gridiron ship, is making a high-stakes leap to the NFL, signing on with the Seattle Seahawks as their new running backs coach and senior offensive assistant. It’s a move packed with potential — not just for Hammock, but for the Seahawks too, fresh off a Super Bowl win and hungry to keep that momentum roaring. Hammock’s journey from a standout NIU running back to a head coach leading stunning upsets, like the jaw-dropping 2024 win over Notre Dame, shows he’s got that rare mix of grit and game smarts. Now, as Northern Illinois braces for a fresh chapter with Rob Harley stepping in as interim coach, the Mountain West waits to see how the Huskies will roll. Change is in the air, and it’s one heck of a story unfolding. LEARN MORE
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock moves on for NFL job originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Northern Illinois Huskies football coach Thomas Hammock is leaving for the NFL, accepting a position as running backs coach and senior offensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
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Hammock is expected to become the league’s highest-paid running backs coach and chose Seattle amid multiple NFL opportunities. The Seahawks are coming off a Super Bowl victory two weeks ago, and Hammock’s addition provides experienced depth to their offensive staff.
A former standout running back at NIU, Hammock compiled a 35-47 record over seven seasons and guided the Huskies to the 2021 Mid-American Conference championship. Northern Illinois posted winning seasons in three of the past five years and earned bowl appearances in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
The signature moment of Hammock’s tenure came in 2024, when NIU stunned 28½-point favorite and No. 5-ranked Notre Dame 16-14 in South Bend, widely regarded as one of the biggest upsets of the college football season.
Defensive coordinator Rob Harley will serve as interim coach, sources said. Maintaining staff continuity and momentum in recruiting and the transfer portal were key factors in the decision.
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Harley joined NIU in 2025 after four seasons at Arkansas State and previously coached at Pitt, FIU, Michigan State and Ohio Dominican. Under his direction last season, NIU ranked second in the MAC in pass defense and sixth nationally, allowing just 11 touchdown passes.
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The Huskies begin play in the Mountain West this fall as a football-only member.
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