Seahawks' Deadline Deals Pay Off Big in Statement Win Over 49ers
When we talk about front office wins, Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider has already built a reputation for pulling off headline-grabbing moves - think Russell Wilson’s blockbuster departure, the Geno Smith resurgence, and locking in DK Metcalf. But it’s his recent trade deadline magic that’s quietly become one of the most impactful storylines in Seattle’s return to NFC contention.
Three of those midseason acquisitions - Rasheed Shaheed, Ernest Jones IV, and Leonard Williams - didn’t just contribute in Saturday night’s 41-6 demolition of the 49ers. They dominated. And in doing so, they put an exclamation point on Schneider’s aggressive, forward-thinking approach to roster building.
Let’s break down how each of these deadline additions helped punch Seattle’s ticket to its first NFC Championship Game since 2014.
Rasheed Shaheed: The Sparkplug Seattle Didn’t Know It Needed
You want to talk about instant impact? Rasheed Shaheed wasted no time setting the tone, taking the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house - just 13 seconds into the game. That return didn’t just light up Lumen Field - it sent a message to the 49ers and the rest of the NFC: Seattle came to play.
Since arriving from New Orleans at the November 4 trade deadline, Shaheed has been a game-breaker. That return marked his third special teams touchdown in just 10 games with the Seahawks.
He had already flipped games against Atlanta (a 100-yard kick return in Week 14) and the Rams (a 58-yard punt return TD in Week 16). Now, he’s doing it on the postseason stage.
But Shaheed wasn’t done after the opening fireworks. He helped fuel two more touchdown drives - first by drawing a 23-yard pass interference flag that set up a goal-to-go situation, and later by ripping off a 30-yard gain on a reverse that had the 49ers defense spinning.
“He’s electric,” said Jaxon Smith-Njigba. “He’s added something to this team that’s special.” And that’s no exaggeration - Shaheed’s blend of speed, vision, and fearlessness has transformed Seattle’s special teams into a weapon.
Ernest Jones IV: The Takeaway Machine in the Middle
When Seattle sent Jerome Baker and a fourth-rounder to Tennessee for Ernest Jones IV back in 2024, it looked like a swap of starting linebackers. What it became was a defensive turning point.
Jones quickly emerged as the heartbeat of the Seahawks’ defense, anchoring the middle with physicality and smarts. He re-upped with the team last March and responded with an All-Pro season - and the kind of playmaking that Seattle hadn’t seen from a linebacker in years.
On Saturday night, Jones was everywhere - and this was after battling an illness earlier in the week. He forced two massive turnovers that helped bury the 49ers before halftime.
First, he stripped tight end Jake Tonges on a short catch, with Julian Love recovering the fumble to set up a quick-strike touchdown and a 17-0 lead. Then in the third quarter, Jones outmuscled Luke Farrell for an interception over the middle, snatching away any momentum San Francisco was trying to build.
This is what he’s done all year. Jones finished the regular season with five interceptions - the most ever by a Seahawks linebacker - and seven pass breakups, all while anchoring a run defense that’s quietly become one of the league’s toughest.
“Two tremendous plays to really change the course of the game,” head coach Mike Macdonald said. And in a postseason setting, those are the plays that separate contenders from pretenders.
Leonard Williams: The Game-Wrecker Up Front
The Seahawks didn’t blink when they sent second- and fifth-round picks to the Giants in October 2023 for Leonard Williams. And since then, the 6-foot-5, 310-pound veteran has been worth every bit of that investment.
Williams has been a disruptive force since arriving in Seattle - 22 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, two Pro Bowls, and an All-Pro nod in just 43 games. But what he did Saturday night was a reminder of just how dominant he can be in the biggest moments.
He tied DeMarcus Lawrence with a team-high six pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and his signature moment came early in the third quarter. With the 49ers trailing 24-6 and facing a fourth-and-2 near midfield, Williams exploded into the backfield and dropped Brock Purdy for a 14-yard loss. That sack didn’t just end a drive - it ended San Francisco’s last real hope of clawing back into the game.
“This defense is amazing. It’s fun to play with them,” Williams said postgame. “We just believe in one another, we trust one another… we trust in the guy next to us and we get the job done.”
That belief has become the identity of this Seattle defense - fast, physical, and fearless. And Williams, with his relentless motor and veteran savvy, is at the center of it.
Schneider’s Deadline Hat Trick
What ties all this together is Schneider’s ability to identify not just talent, but fit. Shaheed, Jones, and Williams weren’t just good players - they were the right players for what Seattle needed, when they needed it most.
Head coach Mike Macdonald summed it up best: “Our philosophy is we’re just constantly chasing it… it’s a relentless attitude to try to always make the team better.”
That mindset has this Seahawks team one win away from the Super Bowl. And if Saturday night was any indication, the rest of the NFC should be on high alert - because Seattle’s deadline deals aren’t just working. They’re winning.