Grey Zabel’s All-Time O-Line Picks Offer a Glimpse Into Seattle’s Identity-and Its Future
For most offensive linemen, Super Bowl week is about fine-tuning footwork, staying locked in, and maybe dodging the occasional media-day curveball. But for Seahawks rookie guard Grey Zabel, it became something more-a moment that peeled back the curtain on how he sees the game, and in many ways, how he plays it.
Asked at Super Bowl LX media day to build his all-time offensive line, Zabel didn’t flinch. No hesitation, no overthinking. What followed was a five-man front that could give any defensive coordinator nightmares: Joe Staley at left tackle, Steve Hutchinson at left guard, Jason Kelce at center, Chris Lindstrom at right guard, and Penei Sewell at right tackle.
Now, that’s not just a highlight reel of individual greatness-it’s a blend of eras, styles, and mentalities. And it tells us a lot about Zabel’s football DNA.
Let’s start with Hutchinson. His name carries serious weight in Seattle, and for good reason.
He was the last guard the Seahawks drafted as highly as they did Zabel, back in 2001. Now, Hutchinson is part of the Seahawks’ front office, and seeing him on Zabel’s list felt like more than a compliment-it felt like a torch being passed.
Zabel isn’t just honoring the past; he’s trying to live up to it.
Then there’s Kelce and Sewell-two linemen who embody today’s NFL trenches: fast, smart, and downright violent when they need to be. Kelce’s command of the game and Sewell’s athleticism and edge are traits Zabel has tried to emulate all season long.
You see it in his footwork, his awareness, and the way he finishes plays. He’s not just holding the line-he’s helping redefine it in Seattle.
And that’s been a big part of the Seahawks’ turnaround. Under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, Seattle didn’t just win-they dominated. A 14-3 finish, the NFC’s top seed, and now a trip to Super Bowl LX, powered by the league’s top scoring defense and a revitalized offense led by Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Zabel’s role in that resurgence has been quietly crucial. As a rookie, he started every game at left guard and brought much-needed stability to a line that had struggled in previous years.
He wasn’t just filling a spot-he was anchoring it. The pressure allowed from his side was minimal, and his performance earned him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
That kind of consistency doesn’t always make headlines, but it wins games. And it sets the tone for what this Seahawks team is becoming: a blend of old-school grit and new-school versatility. Just like the all-time line Zabel rattled off without blinking.
So while his picks may have started as a fun media day moment, they ended up offering something more. They’re a reflection of how Zabel sees the game-and how he’s quietly helping to shape the future of football in Seattle.