The Seattle Seahawks are back on top of the NFL mountain, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy once again. But here’s the question that’s bound to spark debates from Renton to Rainier: Is this 2026 Seahawks squad better than the iconic teams that went to back-to-back Super Bowls in 2014 and 2015?
The answer might surprise you - and it doesn’t hinge on the quarterback position. Because while Sam Darnold had a strong season, he’s not the reason this team just won it all.
That distinction still belongs to Russell Wilson, who was playing at a much higher level during that earlier Super Bowl run. But the 2026 Seahawks didn’t need a superstar under center.
They had something else - something even more rare in today’s NFL: a nearly flawless roster from top to bottom.
This wasn’t just a good team. This was the most complete team in the league.
Offense, defense, special teams, coaching - no glaring weaknesses, no major liabilities. And that kind of balance doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s the product of years of calculated moves, smart drafting, and bold decisions. It’s the work of a general manager who deserves far more credit than he’s getting: John Schneider.
Let’s be clear - Darnold did his job. After a career-reviving season with the Vikings, he didn’t regress.
He didn’t implode under pressure. He didn’t try to be the hero.
He just won. And for this Seahawks team, that was enough.
He had some rough patches late in the regular season, but when it mattered most, he delivered steady, winning football. That’s all Seattle needed.
But if you’re looking for the real MVP of this championship run, look at the man in the front office.
Schneider’s decision to bring in Darnold was gutsy, no doubt. But it wasn’t his boldest or best move.
What separates this Seahawks team - what made them champions - was the totality of the roster Schneider built. He proved that in today’s NFL, you don’t need a top-five quarterback to win it all.
You just need a deep, disciplined, and dominant team.
We’ve seen this formula before. The 2000 Ravens won with Trent Dilfer.
The 2002 Buccaneers won with Brad Johnson. And while Joe Flacco went nuclear during the 2012 playoffs, he was never considered an elite quarterback.
Those teams won because of their rosters - because of their defenses. And now, the 2026 Seahawks can be added to that list.
This defense? It might not just rival the Legion of Boom - it might be the next evolution of it.
Byron Murphy II and Nick Emmanwori were key draft picks who’ve grown into impact players. Ernest Jones IV and Leonard Williams were shrewd trade acquisitions who brought toughness and leadership.
And then there’s DeMarcus Lawrence, a veteran addition who turned out to be one of the most important signings of the offseason.
On the offensive side, Schneider didn’t play it safe either. He took a chance on Cooper Kupp, betting that the aging wideout still had enough left in the tank - and he was right.
He made the call to lean into Jaxon Smith-Njigba as the go-to receiver, even as DK Metcalf’s future with the team grew uncertain. And it worked.
Every piece of the puzzle fit.
This wasn’t about one player carrying the team. This was about a front office building a roster that could win with good - not great - quarterback play.
And in a league obsessed with finding the next Mahomes or Burrow, Schneider zagged while everyone else zigged. He built a defense-first, roster-deep contender that could outlast, out-hit, and out-execute anyone.
The Seahawks didn’t just win a Super Bowl. They made a statement.
And that statement is this: With the right vision, the right players, and the right leadership, you don’t need a superstar quarterback to raise the Lombardi. You just need a complete team - and this year, nobody was more complete than Seattle.
John Schneider? He didn’t just win a Super Bowl. He built one.