For the better part of the last 15 years, the Seattle Seahawks have been the NFL’s model of consistency. No bottoming out.
No full-scale rebuild. Just year after year of competitive football, punctuated by playoff appearances and double-digit wins.
But despite all that success, there’s a different kind of energy around this year’s squad - a feeling that, for the first time in over a decade, they might actually have the full package to make a legitimate Super Bowl run.
So what changed? Why does this team feel different from the ones that came before it?
Let’s break it down.
Building From the Trenches - Finally
The Seahawks have long talked about being a physical, run-first team, built from the inside out. But for years, that philosophy didn’t match the personnel. Seattle was investing heavily in skill players while the offensive and defensive lines were often patchwork units - serviceable, but rarely dominant.
That changed this year.
With the 16th overall pick - the highest original first-round pick they’ve had in over a decade - Seattle grabbed defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. He didn’t just flash potential, he delivered from day one, starting every game and racking up seven sacks as a disruptive force in the middle.
Then they doubled down in the trenches with the 18th overall pick, selecting left guard Grey Zabel. That move helped solidify an interior offensive line that had been a weak spot for years.
The impact was immediate. Pass protection improved drastically - Sam Darnold was sacked just 27 times this season, a significant drop from the 48 sacks he took last year in Minnesota. The defensive front, meanwhile, became one of the best in franchise history, a unit that consistently generated pressure and helped Seattle finish near the top of the league in sacks.
In short: Seattle finally invested where it mattered most, and the results speak for themselves.
Philosophy Meets Execution
For years, the Seahawks’ identity under Pete Carroll was clear: run the ball, control the clock, play tough defense. But the execution didn’t always match the mission. Whether it was a lack of investment in the offensive line or an overreliance on the passing game, Seattle often found itself out of sync with its stated goals.
In 2017, for example, just one running back scored a rushing touchdown all season. That’s not just a stat - it’s a symptom of a team that couldn’t impose its will on the ground.
Even last year, under Mike Macdonald, the offense wanted to be balanced, but new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb struggled to establish an identity. The low point?
A goal-line sequence against the Jets that leaned heavily on the pass and came up empty.
This season, under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks didn’t abandon the run even when it wasn’t working early on. They stayed committed.
They were a top-five team in rushing attempts per game all year, and that persistence paid off late in the season. Over the final four games, Seattle topped 160 rushing yards in each contest, finally finding the rhythm they’d been chasing.
It wasn’t flashy. It was foundational. And it gave the offense the balance and toughness that had been missing in recent years.
Talent That Matches the Moment
Let’s be honest - it’s easy to get along when you’re winning. But this year’s Seahawks aren’t just clicking because of good vibes. They’re clicking because the roster is the deepest and most complete it’s been in years.
General manager John Schneider was named the Pro Football Writers of America’s Executive of the Year, and it’s not hard to see why. This roster has taken a real step forward in overall talent, even if it doesn’t feature a marquee edge rusher like Myles Garrett or Nick Bosa.
What they do have is production by committee - and it’s working. Seattle finished near the top of the league in sacks and pressures, anchored by a defensive unit with three Pro Bowlers: rookie cornerback Devon Witherspoon, veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, and interior force Leonard Williams. Add in second-team All-Pro linebacker Ernest Jones IV, and you’ve got a defense that can win games in multiple ways.
And while the defense has stepped up, the offense hasn’t been far behind. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf continue to be one of the league’s most reliable receiving duos, and the offensive line’s improvement has given the quarterback time to operate and the run game room to breathe.
A Different Kind of Contender
The Seahawks have had good teams before. They’ve had explosive offenses, stingy defenses, and even a few seasons where they looked like dark-horse contenders. But this year feels different because it’s not just about one side of the ball carrying the load.
This is a team with balance. A team with depth. A team that finally looks like the sum of its parts.
For the first time in 11 years, the Seahawks aren’t just talking about chasing a Super Bowl - they have the roster, the identity, and the momentum to actually do it.