Brady Russell has spent the past few seasons doing the kind of work that rarely gets the spotlight, but the Seattle Seahawks are now asking him to do a little more than clean up on special teams.
With Robbie Ouzts sidelined for the season on injured reserve, Russell has become Seattle’s only fullback. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder took the opening to heart in Week 1, logging a career-best 17 offensive snaps and catching two passes for 20 yards in the Seahawks’ 13-10 win over the New England Patriots. It was a notable milestone for Russell, because those were the first two receptions of his four-year NFL career.
They also marked the first catches by a Seahawks fullback since Nick Bellore in 2021.
“Brady’s always been a guy that, when given the opportunity, he’s made the most of it - both out of the backfield and as a tight end,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “He gives you some flexibility on where you can align him and things that you can do with him in more of a receiving type of role.”
That versatility has been part of Russell’s profile for a while. He played tight end at Colorado, where he finished with 78 catches for 799 yards and three touchdowns over five seasons.
After going undrafted in 2023, he carved out a roster spot in Seattle mostly through special teams work, becoming a core piece in that phase and serving as the unit’s captain. Offensively, he was used sparingly as a reserve tight end in 2023 and 2024 before shifting to fullback last season as Ouzts’ backup.
Now, with the job to himself, Russell’s background at both spots could give him a real lane in Brian Fleury’s offense. Fleury arrived after four seasons as the San Francisco 49ers’ tight ends coach, working in an attack that featured 10-time Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk as a steady receiving option.
Russell already flashed that kind of utility against New England. In the second quarter, he lined up as an inline tight end, chipped edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones, then slipped into the flat for a 7-yard catch.
Later, in the third quarter, he aligned at fullback and sold a play-action fake as if he were leading the way for running back Jadarian Price. Price leaked into the flat and pulled Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss with him, leaving space for Russell to catch a short pass and rumble for 13 yards.
“Our offense is going to include big people, and he’s one of the big people that we can put out there, and he’s done a great job,” Macdonald said. “He’s taken advantage of it.
“That’s one week’s worth of good work,” he added. “Let’s keep stacking some plays, let’s keep rolling and see what kind of role you can carve out for yourself.”
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