Seahawks Set the Standard - Can the Cowboys Follow the Blueprint?
The Seattle Seahawks just reminded the football world what a true defensive renaissance looks like. In a dominant Super Bowl LX performance, they overwhelmed the New England Patriots 29-13 and hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with a formula that was as modern as it was old-school: suffocating defense, a revitalized quarterback, and a head coach who’s not afraid to push the envelope.
Now the question becomes: Can the Dallas Cowboys take a page out of Seattle’s playbook?
Let’s start with what made Seattle’s run so special. Second-year head coach Mike Macdonald turned the Seahawks into a defensive juggernaut.
His front seven wasn’t just good-it was historically good. Seattle led the league in scoring defense and capped the season by holding the Patriots scoreless in the first half of the Super Bowl, forcing eight punts and sacking MVP runner-up Drake Maye seven times-a Super Bowl record.
That kind of defensive dominance doesn’t happen by accident. It was the product of a modern, aggressive scheme built on relentless pressure and smart coverage. Macdonald, once flying under the radar in coaching circles, is now the name to watch as teams across the league look to replicate his success.
And that brings us to Dallas.
There are some real parallels between where Seattle was entering 2025 and where the Cowboys stand heading into 2026. Brian Schottenheimer is stepping into his second year as head coach, just like Macdonald did.
While Schottenheimer’s background is rooted in offense, his first season in charge saw Dak Prescott lead one of the league’s most explosive scoring units. The Cowboys offense wasn’t the problem-it was the defense that unraveled.
Enter Christian Parker. At just 34 years old, the new defensive coordinator brings youthful energy and a fresh perspective, much like Macdonald did in Seattle. Parker’s background in the secondary could be exactly what Dallas needs after a 2025 season where their pass defense was among the league’s worst.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s in the trenches. The Cowboys boast a strong interior defensive line with Quinnen Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, and Kenny Clark anchoring the front. That trio gives Dallas a legitimate foundation to build around-much like Seattle had with a revitalized DeMarcus Lawrence leading the league’s top run-stopping unit.
The challenge for Parker will be transforming a porous secondary into a unit that can complement that front. Whether that means shifting to a more flexible 3-4 look to help underneath coverage, or sticking with a traditional setup while developing the current roster and adding talent through the draft and free agency, one thing is clear: the Cowboys defense is going to look different in 2026. It has to.
And then there’s the quarterback story. Seattle’s Sam Darnold completed a redemption arc few saw coming, going from league castoff to Super Bowl-winning starter.
Prescott’s journey isn’t the same, but it carries echoes of that same underdog energy. A fourth-round pick who’s climbed the franchise record books, Prescott still faces questions about his postseason legacy.
A deep playoff run-and maybe more-would go a long way in rewriting that narrative.
The Seahawks have laid down a blueprint: invest in a creative young coach, build an elite front seven, and let a once-overlooked quarterback lead the charge. It’s a formula that worked to perfection in Seattle.
Now it’s up to Dallas to see if they can follow the same path-or blaze one of their own. Either way, the bar has been set.