When the Seattle Seahawks last hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, it wasn’t Russell Wilson or Marshawn Lynch walking away with Super Bowl MVP honors-it was linebacker Malcolm Smith, a defensive standout who seized the moment. Fast forward to this year, and while Seattle fans would love another surprise hero, the oddsmakers are leaning toward a more conventional path to MVP glory.
**According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the favorite is the guy under center-Sam Darnold. ** And honestly, that tracks.
Quarterbacks tend to dominate this award for a reason: they touch the ball every play, they’re the engine of the offense, and when things go right, they’re usually at the center of it all. Darnold’s odds are listed at +115, the best of any player on either team.
He’s coming off arguably his sharpest performance of the season, torching the Rams for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the NFC Championship Game. If Seattle’s offense is the story of Super Bowl Sunday, Darnold’s fingerprints will be all over it.
But he’s not the only Seahawk with a real shot at MVP honors.
**Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as a legitimate Offensive Player of the Year candidate, and his odds sit at +550. ** He’s scored in back-to-back playoff games and was electric in the NFC title game, racking up 153 receiving yards.
If he puts up another stat line like that on the biggest stage, he could join the short list of wide receivers to win Super Bowl MVP. Just five years ago, Cooper Kupp did exactly that for the Rams, proving that it’s possible-even in a quarterback-driven league.
**Speaking of playmakers, don’t sleep on Kenneth Walker III, whose odds are +850. ** He’s been on a tear this postseason, with 178 rushing yards and four touchdowns over the last two games.
He’s been a workhorse too, logging at least 22 touches in both contests. If Seattle leans on the ground game and Walker keeps finding the end zone, he could absolutely be the guy holding the MVP trophy when the confetti falls.
**Then there’s the wildcard: Rashid Shaheed. ** Listed at +4500, he’s the kind of player who can flip a game with one touch.
As a wide receiver and return specialist, Shaheed’s speed makes him a threat to score any time he’s on the field. A return touchdown in the Super Bowl?
That would be the kind of explosive moment that sticks in voters’ minds.
Looking further down the board, FanDuel lists a handful of long shots at +10,000-but they’re not without intrigue:
- Demarcus Lawrence, edge rusher
- Cooper Kupp, wide receiver
- Leonard Williams, defensive lineman
- Nick Emmanwori, safety
- Jason Myers, kicker
Let’s start with the defenders. Seahawks fans who remember Malcolm Smith’s MVP moment might be eyeing Lawrence, Williams, or Emmanwori as potential dark horses.
The path for a defensive MVP is clear: dominate early, force turnovers, maybe even score. If Seattle’s defense sets the tone and takes the pressure off Darnold and the offense, a game-changing play or two could tip the MVP scales in a defender’s favor.
As for Cooper Kupp, he’d need a monster game to pull this off. But it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
Back in 2021, Kupp caught eight passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns-including the game-winner-in the Super Bowl. That kind of performance again?
It would be his best of the season, and it would absolutely put him in the MVP conversation.
**Then there’s Jason Myers. ** No kicker has ever won Super Bowl MVP, and yes, it’s a long shot.
But if this turns into a defensive slugfest and Myers is the only one putting points on the board, he might just sneak into the spotlight. Remember, Seattle already won a game this season against the Colts without scoring a single touchdown-just field goals.
Bottom line: while Darnold is the favorite-and for good reason-the Seahawks have multiple paths to victory, and multiple players capable of stealing the show. Whether it’s a workhorse running back, a breakout receiver, a return specialist with game-breaking speed, or a defensive player making life miserable for the opposing offense, Seattle’s roster is full of MVP-caliber talent. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that the Super Bowl has a way of turning unlikely heroes into legends.