The Seattle Seahawks have officially released veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins from the reserve/non-football injury list, finalizing the move with a non-injury settlement, per the NFL transaction wire. The release clears a path for Hankins, who’s been sidelined this season with a back injury, to explore opportunities elsewhere as a free agent.
To fill the open spot on the practice squad, Seattle brought back offensive tackle Logan Brown, a move that adds depth to the offensive line group as the team navigates the stretch run of the season.
For Hankins, this marks another chapter in what’s been a well-traveled and productive NFL career. Now 33, the former Ohio State standout entered the league as a second-round pick by the New York Giants in 2013. He made an early impact in New York, playing out his rookie contract before cashing in with the Colts on a three-year, $27 million deal that included $14.5 million guaranteed.
But his time in Indianapolis was short-lived. Despite being set to earn $7.5 million and $8 million in base salary over the next two seasons, the Colts released him after just one year.
From there, Hankins landed in Oakland (later Las Vegas), signing with the Raiders in September 2018. He carved out a steady role on their defensive front, earning a two-year, $8.5 million extension and later returning on a series of one-year deals.
In 2022, the Raiders traded Hankins to the Dallas Cowboys, where he continued to provide veteran presence and interior run-stopping ability. Seattle picked him up in March of the following offseason, and after a solid campaign in 2024, they re-signed him to a one-year deal this past offseason.
Hankins was a reliable piece for the Seahawks last year, appearing in all 17 games and recording 30 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one pass deflection, and even notching an interception - a rare feat for a big man in the trenches.
Now, with his release finalized, Hankins becomes a free agent once again. While his back injury has kept him off the field in 2025, his track record suggests he could still have something left in the tank if healthy. For a team in need of veteran help on the interior defensive line, Hankins could be a name worth watching as the playoff picture comes into focus.