The 2025 NFL season is in the books, and while Jets fans once again endured a year that felt more like a weekly endurance test than a football season, there was at least one small consolation: the Patriots lost the Super Bowl - and lost big. Seattle didn’t just beat New England; they dismantled them. In the process, the Seahawks delivered a blueprint that teams like the Jets would be wise to study heading into a pivotal offseason.
Let’s break down what the Jets - and really, any team stuck in the NFL’s middle tier - can learn from Seattle’s rise to the top.
Lesson 1: Defense Isn’t Dead - It’s Evolving
It’s easy to get caught up in the offensive fireworks that dominate highlight reels and headlines. But Seattle’s title run was a reminder that defense still wins - not just games, but championships.
The Seahawks didn’t just slow down an MVP-caliber quarterback in the Super Bowl - they smothered him. And this wasn’t a one-off performance.
Seattle’s defense was elite all season long, finishing first in both EPA per play allowed and DVOA. That level of dominance doesn’t happen by accident.
This marks the second consecutive year the league’s top defense by DVOA won the Super Bowl (Philadelphia did it in 2024), and the trend is starting to feel less like a coincidence and more like a pattern. Since 2020, every Super Bowl winner but one - the 2022 Chiefs, who boasted a historically great offense - finished inside the top seven in defensive DVOA. And unless your quarterback’s name is Brady or Mahomes, history suggests you’re not hoisting the Lombardi without at least a top-five defense.
So no, this isn’t about defense being more important than offense. But it’s a firm reminder that in the modern NFL, where offensive rules tilt the field, an elite defense is still a game-changer - and lately, it’s been the difference between good and great.
Lesson 2: A Defense Can Be Rebuilt - Fast
Jets fans know what a broken defense looks like. So did Seahawks fans, not all that long ago.
In 2023, Seattle’s defense was a mess - 30th in EPA/play allowed, 28th in DVOA. They were young, raw, and frankly, bad. Then came Mike Macdonald.
By 2024, Seattle had climbed to 10th in both major defensive metrics. One year later, they were the best defense in football. That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen without a strong vision and the right people to execute it.
Macdonald deserves credit for bringing a modern, aggressive scheme to Seattle, but the front office’s personnel decisions were just as important. They didn’t chase big-ticket names; they built depth.
Devon Witherspoon became a star early, but the supporting cast around him elevated the entire unit. Julian Love - a modest free-agent signing from the Giants - turned into a steady contributor.
Tyrice Knight, a fourth-rounder in 2024, and Nick Emmanwori, a second-rounder in 2025, both played key roles. Guys like Coby Bryant and Boye Mafe, who had been average at best early in their careers, took real steps forward.
And DeMarcus Lawrence, a savvy veteran addition, brought leadership and edge presence.
This wasn’t a defense built around a few Pro Bowl names. It was a deep, cohesive unit that developed together. Coaching unlocked the talent, but the roster was built with intention - and patience.
The Jets, with their cap space and draft capital, have the tools to follow a similar path. The question is whether they’ll use those tools to build out the full roster or chase splashy names that don’t move the needle.
Lesson 3: You Don’t Need a Superstar QB - But You’d Better Build Around Him
Let’s talk about Sam Darnold.
Yes, it was a little surreal watching him lift the Lombardi Trophy after years of frustration in New York. But let’s be clear: Darnold didn’t carry this team. He played within the structure, avoided too many back-breaking mistakes, and let the talent around him do the heavy lifting.
He finished third in interceptions and 18th in Total QBR. That’s not elite. But it was good enough - because Seattle gave him everything he needed to succeed.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba broke out as a true No. 1 receiver. The offensive line was rock solid, ranking top 12 in pass-block win rate and top 8 in run-block win rate.
Seattle’s receiving corps was deep, finishing second in PFF’s team receiving grades. And their backfield?
Two-headed, versatile, and productive - earning the top PFF rushing grade in the league.
Add in a competent play-caller who knew how to scheme to Darnold’s strengths, and you’ve got a formula that works.
This is the model for teams without a top-five quarterback. Protect him.
Surround him with weapons. Give him a defense that keeps games manageable.
And hire coaches who don’t ask him to be something he’s not.
It’s not flashy, but it works. And for the first time in a long time, the Jets might be in a position to try it.
They’ve got foundational pieces on the offensive line. They’ve got Garrett Wilson, who’s already shown he can be a star. Now it’s about building out the rest - with discipline, not desperation.
Final Thoughts
Seattle’s Super Bowl run wasn’t built on a blockbuster trade or a once-in-a-generation quarterback. It was built on smart drafting, calculated free-agent signings, and a coaching staff that knew how to develop talent and put players in position to succeed.
That’s the kind of team-building philosophy the Jets - and others - should be studying right now.
Because the Seahawks didn’t just win the Super Bowl. They showed the rest of the league how to do it without a superstar under center.
Now it’s on the Jets to decide whether they’ll finally follow a proven formula - or continue chasing shortcuts that lead nowhere.