For the better part of two decades, the NFL has made it a tradition: the reigning Super Bowl champion gets the honor of opening the season with a Thursday night home game. And after a thrilling postseason run, the Seattle Seahawks are the last team standing - which means the 2026 NFL season is set to kick off in front of a roaring crowd at Lumen Field.
Now the big question: who’s coming to town for that Week 1 showdown?
We won’t get the full NFL schedule until the spring, but the home-and-away opponents are already locked in. And when you look at Seattle’s home slate, the league has no shortage of compelling options to choose from. The NFL loves drama, storylines, and star power - and the Seahawks’ 2026 home opponents check all those boxes and then some.
Here’s a look at the nine teams that will visit Lumen Field next season - and how likely each one is to land the coveted Week 1 primetime spotlight.
Seattle’s 2026 Home Opponents:
- Los Angeles Rams
- San Francisco 49ers
- Arizona Cardinals
- New England Patriots
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Chicago Bears
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Giants
Let’s break it down.
Los Angeles Rams
If you’re going purely off quality of play and rivalry heat, this one would be a no-brainer.
The Seahawks and Rams were arguably the two best teams in football this past season. They went toe-to-toe three times, with all three games decided by a combined seven points - capped off by Seattle’s 31-27 win in the NFC Championship Game.
That’s the kind of matchup that screams season opener.
But there’s a catch - and it’s a big one. The Rams are set to face the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, in what will be the NFL’s first-ever game Down Under.
That international matchup is expected to take place either Wednesday or Thursday of Week 1, which all but rules out both the Rams and 49ers from being available for the Thursday night kickoff in Seattle. The logistics of a 16-hour flight and a 19-hour time difference make it nearly impossible for either team to be ready for another game that same week.
New England Patriots
A Super Bowl rematch?
That’s always going to get attention. And given the defensive slugfest we just saw in the title game, a second round between these two would certainly carry some intrigue.
But that’s also the issue - the game was a grind. The NFL typically wants fireworks to open the season, not a 17-13 defensive battle.
That might push this one down the list a bit, even if the historical backdrop is enticing.
Kansas City Chiefs
On paper, this is a marquee matchup.
Patrick Mahomes vs. the defending champs? That’s instant primetime material.
But there’s one major variable: Mahomes is coming off a torn ACL. While he’s aiming to be ready by Week 1, the league may be hesitant to bank on that timeline for its biggest stage.
No Mahomes likely means no go for the opener - the NFL won’t want to roll out a backup QB in such a high-profile slot.
Los Angeles Chargers
Now here’s a dark horse with real juice.
The football connection runs deep here. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh go way back to their days at Michigan, where Harbaugh was the head coach and Macdonald ran the defense in 2021.
Macdonald also spent nearly a decade under Jim’s brother, John Harbaugh, in Baltimore. That’s a lot of shared football DNA - and plenty of motivation on both sides.
On the field, the Chargers are no slouch either. They’re coming off an 11-6 season and have one of the league’s top quarterbacks in Justin Herbert.
The chess match between Herbert and Macdonald’s defense would be worth the price of admission alone. Add in the coaching storyline, and this one has real potential.
Chicago Bears
If you’re looking for a matchup that blends rising star power with strategic intrigue, this might be the one.
Seattle’s Mike Macdonald is already being hailed as the league’s top defensive play-caller. On the other sideline, Bears head coach Ben Johnson is one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. These two helped engineer massive turnarounds this season - Seattle jumped from 10 wins in 2024 to 14 and a Super Bowl title in 2025, while Chicago surged from five wins to 11 and an NFC North crown.
Then there’s Caleb Williams. The Bears’ rookie quarterback is electric - the kind of player who can turn a game (and a franchise) on its head.
A Williams vs. Macdonald chess match in Week 1?
That’s must-see TV.
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys weren’t exactly world-beaters this past season, finishing 7-9-1, but they’re still the Cowboys.
Love them or hate them, they move the needle. Over the last three seasons, they’ve appeared in 18 primetime games - more than any other team.
That kind of draw is hard to ignore, even if the on-field product hasn’t matched the hype.
Would the NFL open the season with a team that missed the playoffs? Maybe not. But if they’re prioritizing ratings, Dallas is always in the conversation.
New York Giants & Arizona Cardinals
Let’s be honest - these two are long shots, and that’s putting it kindly.
Both teams were among the worst in the league this past season, and neither offers the kind of storyline or star power the NFL typically wants in its kickoff game. Barring something unexpected, don’t expect to see the Giants or Cardinals in primetime to open the year.
The Bottom Line
With the Rams and 49ers likely off the table due to their Australia trip, the field narrows - but it’s still a strong group.
The Chargers and Bears offer compelling football matchups and coaching storylines. The Patriots bring a Super Bowl rematch.
The Chiefs are always a draw, though Mahomes' injury status complicates things. And the Cowboys, well, they’re the Cowboys.
No matter who gets the nod, one thing’s for sure: Lumen Field is going to be rocking when the Seahawks raise that banner. And whoever lines up across from them better be ready - because the champs aren’t easing into 2026.