KIRKLAND, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks announced they have hired Mike Solari as their new offensive line coach, two days after head coach Mike Holmgren fired Bill Laveroni.

Solari spent the past 11 seasons with Kansas City Chiefs, the first nine as offensive line coach and last two as offensive coordinator.

The Seahawks may have been attracted by the fact that with Solari, the Chiefs finished among the top 10 teams in the NFL in rushing offense five times during the last seven seasons.

They fired Solari on New Year's Day after Kansas City gained just 1,248 yards rushing this season, the team's worst total in a nonstrike year.

The Seahawks' rushing struggles this season led to Holmgren giving up on his preferred balance in the offense this season. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck set a franchise record for pass attempts.

They rushed for just 28 yards on 18 carries and lost at Green Bay in the snow during the NFC divisional playoffs.

Holmgren says restoring a quality running game is perhaps his biggest priority for 2008, which will be his 10th and final season year as Seattle's coach.

Solari was the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach from 1992-96 with San Francisco before he joined the Chiefs. Solari began with the 49ers at the same time Holmgren left San Francisco to become the head coach of the Packers.