The Seattle Seahawks are about to open the 2026 NFL season at home against the New England Patriots, and the biggest change on offense is clear: Klint Kubiak is out, Brian Fleury is in.
That switch at offensive coordinator is the headline, but it doesn’t mean Seattle is tearing everything up. The Seahawks should still attack downfield in familiar ways.
What changes is the flavor of the offense. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said Fleury is bringing pieces of the 49ers’ dynamic system with him, and those details could give Seattle a different kind of edge.
One of the most noticeable changes should come before the snap. Expect more shifts and motion, with players like running backs, tight ends, and certain wide receivers moving around to force defenses to react. That kind of movement is meant to mess with defensive eyes and create hesitation.
Sam Darnold is already comfortable with that style. He saw plenty of motion during his college days at USC and again in 2023 during his limited time with the 49ers. Seattle also has enough players who know the scheme and have the talent to make it work.
The Seahawks are also leaning into multiple-tight-end looks, another staple from that 49ers approach. They used a similar setup last season with A.J. Barner and Elijah Arroyo, along with Eric Saubert or Nick Kallerup.
Arroyo looks like the most versatile piece in that group because he can run a wider range of routes and could become a real weapon for Darnold. Barner and Saubert profile as dependable options in the middle of the field while also handling blocking duties. And with Robbie Ouzts out for the season because of injury, Kallerup will need to hold up as a run blocker in heavier formations.
The name with the biggest breakout potential might be Rashid Shaheed. He arrived at the NFL Trade Deadline last season and never fully settled into the offense, but that has changed after an offseason spent building chemistry with Darnold. The two worked together away from the team facility multiple times, trying to get on the same page.
That matters because Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, is going to draw plenty of attention. If defenses tilt toward him, Shaheed gives Seattle the kind of deep threat that can punish them. After a strong offseason of development and learning Fleury’s system, he could be one of the team’s most dangerous playmakers on offense and special teams by the time the season reaches its halfway point.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 1 Concern In The Secondary
The Seahawks opened their 2026 injury report with a familiar sort of early-season unease, and the secondary was right in the middle of it. Safety Ty Okada showed up with a hamstring issue, while rookie Nick Emmanwori is still working back from ankle surgery, leaving Seattle with an immediate reason to watch the back end of the defense as Week 1 approaches. Wide receiver Tory Horton was also limited with a hamstring injury, but rookie corner Julian Neal was a full participant after dealing with a quad issue.
For a team that leans on communication and depth in the secondary, any limitation at safety this early is worth monitoring closely. The first practice week always comes with a little caution, but Seattles initial report offered a reminder that the opening game plan could depend on how quickly Okada and Emmanwori can get right. Across the field, New England had its own concerns, with defensive tackle Christian Barmore and running back TreVeyon Henderson both missing practice because of injuries. [Read more 🡒]
Braden Fiske Is Feeling The Rams' Blockbuster Move In A Real Way
The Rams defense keeps coming up as a moving target in the NFC West, and Braden Fiske has been right in the middle of that conversation. The outside linebacker has already weighed in on the teams blockbuster trade chatter around Myles Garrett and on the departure of Jared Verse, a reminder that even a division rivals personnel moves can ripple well beyond one locker room.
For the Seahawks, the larger picture is how quickly the divisions roster landscape can shift, with Arizona also locking up Michael Wilson on a new extension and Seattle making its own notable addition in Terrion Arnold. The one-year deal came after the Seahawks did their homework with background checks and consultations across the football world, but the legal situation around Arnold still leaves the move carrying more scrutiny than your typical depth signing. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Seahawks Opener Just Got Dragged Into A Mike Vrabel Mess
The Seahawks season opener has picked up an unexpected off-field subplot, with NFL insider Albert Breer predicting that more details could surface before New England and Seattle kick off the regular season. What began in April as a swirl around photos involving Dianna Russini and Mike Vrabel has already spilled well beyond a tabloid-style rumor, forcing the issue into the NFL conversation at the exact moment the Patriots are trying to turn the page and get ready for Week 1.
Vrabel has kept the focus on football in recent public comments, declining to address the report directly during a press conference and steering the conversation back to the matchup ahead. But the unresolved questions around the episode still hang over a game that should have been about the Seahawks measuring themselves against a new-look Patriots team, making this opener feel a little less like a clean start and a little more like a story with another chapter still to come. [Read more 🡒]