The Seahawks are keeping with one of their more interesting weekly habits: fresh captains for each game. That means the group leading Seattle into Week 1 is worth watching, even if the process behind the selections stays a little mysterious.
At quarterback, Sam Darnold gets the first captain spot, which fits the usual NFL script. The signal-caller is often the face of the huddle and the obvious place to start when a team hands out leadership duties.
Darnold’s recent run makes the choice easy to understand, too. He has made back-to-back Pro Bowls, put together back-to-back fourteen-win seasons with two different teams, and won Super Bowl LX last season.
Even with Jaxon Smith-Njigba viewed by many as Seattle’s best player, Darnold still stands out as a clear leader. He is also heading into a season where he’ll likely be playing for his next contract.
On defense, the Seahawks went with a strong tandem in Ernest Jones IV and Leonard Williams. Jones wears the green dot and is a central voice for the defense on and off the field, while Williams, fresh off a recent $90 million extension, may be the unit’s best player. Together, they make for a logical Week 1 pairing.
That said, Seattle has no shortage of other defensive voices. Byron Murphy II looks ready to push toward All-Pro status this season, Devon Witherspoon is already a top player at his position, DeMarcus Lawrence still has plenty to offer as a veteran presence, and Julian Love also fits the bill. The room is full of leadership.
Brady Russell rounds out the group, and his selection points to how much the Seahawks value special teams. Russell works as a fullback on offense, but he’s better known for what he brings in the third phase. That makes him a notable choice for a team with a high-profile special teams unit that includes Jason Myers and Michael Dickson.
One other detail stands out: none of the four captains started their careers in Seattle. Darnold arrived after time with four different teams, Williams and Jones came via trade, and Russell even spent time on Philadelphia’s practice squad without appearing in a game. At the very least, that’s a noteworthy wrinkle to the Week 1 leadership group.
In Other News...
DK Metcalf Just Reopened A Seahawks Debate Fans Never Dropped
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Metcalf, though, is not treating the result like a reason to revisit his choice. He has said he understands the consequences of asking out and has congratulated his former teammates, even as the Steelers committed to him with a four-year, $132 million extension. For Seattle fans, it keeps the conversation in a familiar place: whether the franchise got the timing right, whether Metcalf got what he wanted, and how much a championship ring changes the hindsight around a trade that was already going to be dissected for years. [Read more 🡒]
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The broader push also reaches into girls flag football, where Brooks plans to recognize coaches and players as the sport keeps growing in the region. The company expects to spotlight those efforts at a Seahawks home game, turning what could have been a straightforward endorsement deal into a much wider effort around local football. For Kupp and the Seahawks, it is a partnership built as much on community footing as on what happens on game day. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Could Get A Big Backfield Boost Sooner Than Expected
Zach Charbonnets start to the season remains on hold, but theres at least a little more optimism around his recovery than there was when the Seahawks first braced for a long absence. The running back is on the physically unable to perform list after the knee injury he carried out of last season, which means he will miss the first four games, but coach Mike Macdonald said Charbonnet is progressing well and could be back sooner than the December timeframe that had seemed to be the target.
For Seattle, the possibility matters because Charbonnets return would give the backfield a jolt at a point in the season when teams usually start absorbing wear and tear. Still, nothing is locked in yet. He has to pass a physical before the Seahawks can activate him, and with no firm return date in place, the team is left waiting to see whether the encouraging signs turn into an actual midseason comeback. [Read more 🡒]