The Seattle Seahawks are fresh off a dominant Super Bowl 60 win, but their path as defending champions might take an unconventional turn to open the 2026 NFL season.
Traditionally, the reigning Super Bowl champs kick off the new season with a Thursday night home game. But this year, that honor might not go to Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks. Despite a commanding 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots - a game where Kenneth Walker III stole the show with 135 rushing yards en route to Super Bowl MVP honors - there’s a real possibility that the NFL could pivot from tradition.
Why? It all comes down to international scheduling and a matchup that’s as fierce as it is fascinating: the Los Angeles Rams vs. the San Francisco 49ers.
The two NFC West rivals are slated to face off in Melbourne, Australia, as part of the league’s continued global expansion. And with the game set for Week 1, logistics are playing a major role in how the NFL might structure its opening weekend.
According to reports, the Melbourne game is expected to kick off on a Sunday afternoon U.S. time. But here’s the wrinkle - the time difference between Australia and the West Coast is no joke.
We’re talking a 16-hour flight from L.A. or San Francisco, coupled with a 19-hour time zone gap. That kind of turnaround isn’t ideal for teams preparing for a Week 2 game just days later.
So what’s the solution? The league could move the Rams-49ers game up to Labor Day weekend - a full week before the traditional Week 1 slate.
That would give both teams the breathing room they need to recover, return home, and prep for their next matchup. It would also make the Rams-49ers clash the first official game of the 2026 season, even if it doesn’t take place in the usual Thursday night primetime slot.
There’s only one known conflict: Notre Dame and Wisconsin are scheduled to play a college football game at Lambeau Field on that same Sunday. But if that game kicks off at night, the NFL would have a wide-open window earlier in the day to showcase its international showdown.
Now, even if the Rams and 49ers do take the field a week early in Australia, the Seahawks would still be in line to host the first Thursday night game of the season - a marquee spot that remains a showcase for the defending champs. And Seattle has no shortage of high-profile opponents coming to town in 2026. Their home slate includes the Patriots, Chiefs, Rams, 49ers, and Bears - a lineup that offers plenty of options for a primetime opener.
This current Seahawks squad has shades of the 2013 team that brought the franchise its first Lombardi Trophy. Back then, it felt like the beginning of a dynasty.
Russell Wilson was a rising star, the Legion of Boom was in its prime, and Marshawn Lynch was running through defenses like a wrecking ball. But we all remember how that run ended - a fateful decision at the one-yard line, a locker room that never fully recovered, and only two more playoff wins with that core.
Fast forward to now, and Seattle once again boasts a physical, playmaking defense, a steady hand at quarterback, and a ground game that can take over. Kenneth Walker III’s Super Bowl performance was a statement. This team isn’t just built to win - it’s built to last.
Whether they kick off the season in the spotlight or not, the Seahawks have already made their mark. Now comes the harder part: proving they can stay on top.