The Seattle Seahawks are back in the Super Bowl conversation-and it’s not just because the quarterback play has taken a step forward. While the poise under center has certainly improved, one of the biggest reasons for Seattle’s resurgence is something that’s been missing for years: a legitimately strong offensive line.
At the heart of that turnaround is rookie Grey Zabel, who’s been nothing short of a revelation. When general manager John Schneider used a first-round pick on an interior offensive lineman-a first in his tenure-it raised a few eyebrows. But Zabel has delivered in a big way, anchoring a unit that’s gone from a liability to a legitimate strength.
Zabel, though, is quick to deflect the credit. Speaking to reporters just days before Super Bowl LX, the rookie made it clear that his development wouldn’t have been possible without offensive line coach John Benton.
It’s not just humility-it’s the truth. Benton has been instrumental in transforming this group from one of the league’s worst to a top-half unit in just one season.
Let’s rewind for a second. Just a year ago, Seattle’s offensive line was ranked dead last in the league by Pro Football Focus.
That’s 32nd out of 32. It was a group that couldn’t stay healthy, couldn’t protect the quarterback, and couldn’t open up running lanes with any consistency.
Enter John Benton and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who were both hired last offseason. The results?
A massive leap to 15th in the rankings. That’s not just improvement-that’s a full-blown overhaul.
Zabel’s presence at left guard was a major piece of the puzzle, but so was the return to health of right tackle Abraham Lucas. And then there’s the chemistry on the interior.
Zabel lined up next to center Jalen Sundell, his former teammate at North Dakota State. That kind of familiarity matters, especially in the trenches where communication and timing are everything.
Still, it was Benton who brought it all together. His coaching turned potential into production.
But here’s where things get tricky. With Kubiak reportedly heading to the Las Vegas Raiders to become their new head coach, there’s a real possibility that Benton could follow him. The two worked together previously with the New Orleans Saints, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kubiak want to bring his trusted O-line coach along for the ride.
If that happens, Seattle will be looking for both a new offensive coordinator and a new offensive line coach this offseason. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that just found its rhythm in the trenches after years of struggling. Seahawks fans have every reason to be nervous about hitting the reset button again.
The hope, of course, is that what Benton taught this group sticks. The talent is there-Zabel, Sundell, Lucas-they’re not going anywhere.
But coaching matters, especially for an offensive line. The wrong hire could undo a lot of hard-earned progress.
Zabel’s respect for the game also came through when he was asked about his dream offensive line. His answer?
A mix of legends and current stars. At left guard, he picked Seahawks great Steve Hutchinson.
Alongside him, Joe Staley at left tackle, Jason Kelce at center, Chris Lindstrom at right guard, and Penei Sewell at right tackle. That’s a group any quarterback would love to stand behind.
For now, Zabel and the Seahawks are focused on the task at hand: Super Bowl LX. But once the confetti falls-win or lose-there will be big questions to answer about the future of this offensive line and the coaching staff that helped build it.