The Seattle Seahawks, fresh off their triumphant win in Super Bowl LX, are officially on the market. The Paul G. Allen Estate announced the sale process on February 18, 2026, marking the end of an era that began when the late Microsoft co-founder purchased the team in 1997 for $194 million.

Now valued at around $6.59 billion by Sportico, experts predict the franchise could shatter records with a sale price between $7 billion and $10 billion, potentially climbing to $11 billion given the team's recent championship success and the NFL's soaring valuations.

The process, handled by Allen & Company and law firm Latham & Watkins, is expected to be deliberate, drawing from a pool of ultra-wealthy individuals capable of meeting the league's stringent ownership requirements, including a minimum 30% equity stake.

Here’s a look at some of the most frequently mentioned potential buyers, starting with those boasting strong Seattle connections:

Jeff Bezos: The Obvious Front-Runner?

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, with a net worth of approximately $219.5 billion, tops nearly every speculative list. Born in Albuquerque but synonymous with Seattle through Amazon's headquarters, Bezos has long been rumored to covet NFL ownership. He was linked to the Washington Commanders’ sale in 2023 but ultimately passed. His East Coast lifestyle in Miami might temper enthusiasm, but his resources and local legacy make him a natural fit.

Steve Ballmer: A Sports Mogul with Seattle Roots

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, worth about $141 billion, already owns the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, which he acquired in 2014. His ties to the Pacific Northwest run deep, having worked alongside Paul Allen at Microsoft. Ballmer’s energetic style and proven track record in sports ownership could appeal to the NFL, and media personalities like Rich Eisen have suggested he could “buy the whole NFL” if he wanted. As a Seattle-area resident with a passion for local sports, Ballmer is seen as a community-oriented choice.

Bill Gates: Tech Titan and Seahawks Supporter

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, with a net worth of around $107 billion, has historical links to Allen and has voiced public support for the Seahawks. While Gates hasn’t actively pursued team ownership in the past, his philanthropy and low-key demeanor could position him as a stable, long-term steward. However, his focus on global issues through the Gates Foundation might divert his interest.

MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist with Deep Pockets
Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, valued at $28.6 billion, has been floated as a potential buyer due to her Seattle residency and massive wealth from Amazon stock. Known for her rapid philanthropy—donating billions to causes—she could bring a fresh, community-focused perspective to ownership.

Ownership Groups: A Collaborative Path to Seahawks Ownership
While individual billionaires dominate the speculation, the escalating valuations of NFL franchises—often exceeding $5 billion—make ownership groups an increasingly viable and common alternative to a single primary owner.

Under NFL rules, a controlling owner must hold at least a 30% stake in the team, but ownership can involve groups of up to 25 individuals, provided the group structure meets league approval. This model has been successfully implemented in recent sales, such as the Denver Broncos’ acquisition by the Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group in 2022 for $4.65 billion, led by Walmart heir Rob Walton with partners including Mellody Hobson and Condoleezza Rice. Similarly, the Washington Commanders were purchased in 2023 by a group headed by Josh Harris, including Magic Johnson and David Blitzer, for a record $6.05 billion.

The 2024 rule change allowing private equity firms to invest up to 10% in teams further facilitates group ownership by enabling funds like Arctos Partners, Ares Management, or consortia such as Blackstone and Carlyle Group to provide capital without decision-making control.

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For the Seahawks, valued potentially at $10-11 billion, a group could pool resources from Seattle's tech ecosystem—perhaps led by a figure like Ballmer or Gates, with minority stakes from executives at companies like Starbucks or Boeing, or even involving local investors to emphasize community ties. This approach not only spreads financial risk but also brings diverse expertise, potentially enhancing team management and fan engagement. Given the high price tag, some analysts suggest a group bid is more probable than a solo purchase..

Out-of-Towners: Larry Ellison, Tilman Fertitta, and More
Beyond locals, Oracle founder Larry Ellison ($150+ billion) was a name mentioned when the Broncos were for sale. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and Canadian businessman Steve Apostolopolous, who bid on the Commanders, are also mentioned as possibilities. Social media buzz includes wildcards like Elon Musk, but those stem from satirical reports and fan speculation, with no credible interest confirmed.

As the bidding unfolds, the Seahawks' future owner will inherit a championship-caliber team in a passionate market. With no relocation risks and a price tag that could redefine sports valuations, this sale represents a major milestone for the NFL. Whoever wins the bid will need not just billions, but a vision to sustain Seattle's gridiron legacy.

And it was remarkable that even my son, who watches only a little football, screamed out: “why didn’t you go for it on 4th and 1???”

Play to win. Always play to win. Even the 15 year olds know this.

With that said, my goodness, Riq Woolen could have changed the narrative of this game. And then we wouldn’t care about the 4th and 1.

Those were the two biggest talking points on social media and sports radio after the 49ers 17-13 win over the Hawks on Sunday. In this post, I will try to give you five additional takeways as you ponder how Seattle will possibly go into Pittsburgh and get a victory this week.

Charbonnet Needs More Snaps

The other way to say this is that Ken Walker needs less snaps. The reality is that Zach Charbonnet runs with conviction and purpose while Walker looks like he is always nursing an injury. (Most of the time, he is nursing an injury). While there seems to be a national and local fascination with what Ken Walker could be, the facts don’t match this dream. In 10 attempts on Sunday, Walker had -21 rush yards over expected, according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats. That was third worst in the the league. (Interestingly, Christian McCaffrey was the worst). Zach Charbonnet was at -2 rush yards over expected, which doesn’t sound good either. However, this was 12th in the NFL with only 11 rushers recording positive yards in this stat. The eye test matches the stats for me. Feed Charbonnet 80% - 90% of the carries this week againt Pittsburgh.

Offensive Offense

Any early excitement over Clint Kubiak as offensive coordinator quickly moved to the X dumpster fire of social media posts after this game one performance. In the 17-13 loss to the 49ers, the Hawks recorded the 5th lowest passing yards in the league, only 84 yards rushing (middle of the pack), and the second lowest time of possession. While the stats show a pathetic peformance, the process is even more disturbing. We were sold on Kubiak establishing the run and using Sam Darnold as a play-action passer. However, as one X user pointed out, that only happened twice.

The general consensus from those who cover the Seahawks and Seahawk fans is that there is a lack of clarity on what the plan is for the offense. That needs to change in week 2.

Shanahan outdueled MacDonald

This is a takeaway where the stats might tell a different story than the headline. Yes, Christian McCaffrey only averaged 3.1 yards per rush on 22 carries. Yes, Purdy threw two interceptions (and possibly another that should have clinched a win for the Hawks). However, being on the 50 yard line in person (slight flex) gave me a great perspective on what Shanahan was doing in big moments. Specifically, Shanahan found ways to get McCaffrey in favorable matchups in the passing game using schemes, routes, and deception. The Seahawks had no answer as McCaffrey went for nine catches on ten targets. Here is an example.

In the above clip, Shanahan basically runs a staggered, short skinny post with a tight end behind McCaffrey simply to clear out the defenders. This allows McCaffrey to run the exact route behind the tight end in open space.

While MacDonald wasn’t bad in his playcalling (obvious with the defensive numbers), Shanahan was just better.

JSN…Anyone Else?

The first game of the regular season will really sober a fanbase up better than any liquid IV. After weeks of hype around Elijah Arroyo, Tory Horton and the homecoming of Cooper Kupp, no one other than Jaxon Smith-Njigba did anything in the passing game. JSN was fantastic with nine catches (on ten targets) for 124 yards. If Seattle doesn’t fumble at the end of the game, Smith-Njibga is probably the story. Sadly, it was not to be. Overall, Sam Darnold only targeted a receiver or tight end not named JSN six times. This included zero targets for Horton. The question is whether this is a precursor of sad times to come or a blip in week one?

The Left Side of the Line

The Seahawks offensive line was not a problem in this game. While the entire unit wasn’t elite, the left side of the line has a chance to be. Charles Cross finished the game with a 79.7 rating from Pro Football Focus, good for 8th in the entire league among all offensive linemen. He was 2nd overall in pass blocking in particular. Grey Zabel held his own in his first NFL start with a decent PFF rating (but not good). The NFL analysts on X liked Zabel more than PFF. Brian Baldinger is a big fan.

Zabel wasn’t awesome, but it seems like he will be. And we should expect the left side of the line to be the biggest offensive strength in coming weeks.

In those 25 seasons, Seattle has seen some premier talent, but out of all the quality players that have suited up for the Seahawks, who makes the cut for the All-Century team?

The Criteria

Before the list, I would like to make a few disclaimers. This list will be comprised of players who had the best single seasons over the past 25 years, valuing peak over longevity. The list will also not include every member of the 53-man active roster typically seen for an NFL team, only the starters plus a few reserves.

To determine who had the best single season at each position I used a combination of stats, awards, and the nifty approximate value stat on pro football reference. The final criterion I used was ultimately my opinion. I was born in 2003, so I will instinctively lean more towards recent players because that's who I watched growing up. For all the elder fans reading, I apologize in advance.

There were a lot of tough decisions and close calls creating this list, and I will try to explain my reasoning behind each close pick to the best of my ability, so without further ado, here is my Seahawks All-Century team.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson 2015

Honorable Mentions: 2005 Matt Hasselbeck, 2022 Geno Smith

Realistically, I could have picked any season of Wilson’s from his rookie year in 2012 to his 40-touchdown campaign in 2020, ultimately, I decided on 2015.

2015 marked the first 4000-yard season for Wilson while also rushing for 500 yards and throwing for 34 touchdowns. Russ finished third in Offensive Player of the Year voting and led the Seahawks to a Divisional Round loss to the Panthers.

While some seasons may have had better individual statistics, team success, or accolades (a second-team All-Pro selection in 2019), I felt 2015 offered a quality combination of all three, while also appealing to the peak-Russ play style we all remember so fondly.

Running backs: 2005 Shaun Alexander, 2012 Marshawn Lynch, 2000 Ricky Watters

Honorable Mentions: 2019 Chris Carson, 2022 Kenneth Walker III

Some of the easier decisions to make on this team, the running back position has been an embarrassment of riches for the Hawks.

The obvious choices, of course, Alexander and Lynch, were both bell-cow beasts on Super Bowl caliber teams. In 2005, Shaun Alexander was every fantasy football manager’s dream, scoring a whopping 28 total touchdowns and earning league MVP honors in the process.

On the other hand, Marshawn Lynch was a defender’s worst nightmare, and in 2012, Lynch was at the peak of his powers. 1590 rushing yards, a first-team All-Pro selection, and too many facemasks to count put in the turf.

The final selection was the criminally underrated Ricky Watters. At the ripe age of 31, Watters put together his best season with Seattle, 1855 all-purpose yards, and nine total touchdowns. The should-be future Hall of Famer adds a nice change-of-pace to the bruising styles of Alexander and Lynch.

Wide Receivers: 2020 D.K. Metcalf, 2024 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, 2021 Tyler Lockett

Honorable Mentions: 2015 Doug Baldwin, 2002 Koren Robinson, 2003 Darrell Jackson

It’s weird to think that all three of these guys played on the same team for two seasons, but not all of them were at the peak of their powers over that span.

In Russ’s 40-touchdown season in 2020, a young D.K. benefited mightily from Russ’s signature “moon balls” and in just his sophomore season delivered the best of his career — 1303 receiving yards, 10 touchdowns, and a second-team All-Pro selection. Metcalf never quite reproduced this level of production in a Seahawks uniform, but at his peak, he was arguably the best receiver since the great Steve Largent.

A polar opposite receiver, Tyler Lockett, proved to be just as effective in his own herky-jerky style. In a third-and-medium situation, you’d be hard-pressed not to fight Lockett sitting down right behind the sticks to inevitably move the chains. Lockett was a beacon of consistency for half a decade in Seattle. In 2021 the franchise’s second all-time leading receiver recorded his single-season career high mark for yards with 1175.

The final selection could turn out to be the best of the three. Like Metcalf, JSN soared to new heights in his sophomore season, earning Pro-Bowl honors and finishing with 100 catches. Smith-Njigba commands respect at every level of the route tree and will likely get all he can eat next season with Sam Darnold coming to town and Metcalf and Lockett out the door.

Offensive Line: 2007 Walter Jones, 2018 Duane Brown, 2012 Max Unger, 2005 Steve Hutchinson, 2015 Justin Britt

Honorable Mentions: 2005 Robbie Tobeck, 2015 Gary Gilliam, 2022 Charles Cross

Just like the running backs, Seattle is spoiled with two Hall of Famers in Jones and Hutchinson, and another future Canton inductee in Brown.

Jones, Unger, and Hutchinson all were stalwarts on Super Bowl teams allowing for Lynch and Alexander to have monster seasons in the process. Brown played one of his best seasons of his career in his first with the Seahawks, making second team All-Pro in his 11th season as a pro.

Britt is the obvious “weak” link of the unit, but that is not to discredit his six years of above-average play at three different positions on the line.

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Defensive Line: 2007 Patrick Kerney, 2024 Leonard Williams, 2015 Michael Bennett, 2016 Cliff Avril

Honorable Mentions: 2001 John Randle

The highlight from the Seahawks dominant defensive units was the Legion of Boom secondary, but the Hawks churned out some pretty solid talent in the trenches as well.

Kerney recorded the best single season of the bunch, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and making First Team All-Pro. In his first season in Seattle the defensive end recorded 14.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

Bennett and Avril played similar roles on the dominant Hawks teams of the early 2010’s. Both had many solid seasons, but in both the seasons selected the duo had double-digit sacks.

Leonard Williams is the only true DT of the bunch, but despite lining up on the inside, Williams recorded 11.0 sacks in his first full season with Seattle after being traded by the Giants in 2023. The gargantuan Williams had arguably his best season of his career in 2024 and will look to continue the success come September.

Linebackers: 2014 Bobby Wagner, 2007 Lofa Tatupu, 2016 K.J. Wright, 2007 Julian Peterson

Honorable Mentions: 2001 Chad Brown, 2021 Jordyn Brooks

How good was Bobby Wagner in 2014? Well, despite playing just 11 games, B-Wags finished fifth in MVP voting and was a First Team All-Pro selection. I realistically could have put any season of Wagner’s 11-year tenure with Seattle, but if he had stayed healthy for a full 16 games in 2014, we could have potentially seen the League’s first defensive MVP since Lawrence Taylor in 1986.

Tatupu anchored Seattle’s defense as a rookie in 2005 and reached his full potential two seasons later with a First Team All-Pro nod. His teammate Julian Peterson cracked the roster and is the only non-pure middle linebacker of the bunch, adding a bit of versatility to a talented group.

K.J. Wright finishes out the room, and as the running mate of Wagner, was often overshadowed; however, Wright put together some pretty impressive seasons of his own including a Pro Bowl nod in 2016.

Defensive Backs: 2013 Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, & Kam Chancellor, 2011 Brandon Browner, 2007 Marcus Trufant

Honorable Mentions: 2022 Riq Woolen, 2024 Devon Witherspoon, 2020 Jamal Adams

Who else but all four members of arguably the greatest secondary of all-time (and Marcus Trufant)?

In 2013, Richard Sherman not only had a case for the best cornerback on the planet, but the best player as well. The braggadocious star wreaked havoc on opposing offenses week in and week out, routinely shutting down some of the game’s most dominant receivers (and Michael Crabtree that one time).

The dynamic duo of Chancellor and Thomas struck fear into any receiver who dared traverse the middle of the field. The hard-hitting, downhill style of Chancellor was complemented nicely by the rangy, free-flowing nature of Thomas. Although both had different styles, they were equally aggressive and dominant.

As was the case with K.J. Wright, Brandon Browner was often overshadowed when compared to his All-Pro counterparts. However, you could not have asked for a much better sidekick when Browner was on the field. The 6-foot-4 cornerback burst onto the scene with a Pro Bowl selection and six interceptions as a rookie in 2011.

Yet another selection from Seattle’s top 10 defense in 2007, Trufant recorded a team-high seven interceptions and added another 78-yard pick-six to seal the deal in the Wild Card round against the then-Washington Redskins.

Special Teams: 2015 Tyler Lockett, 2020 Jason Myers, 2020 Tyler Ott, 2020 Nick Bellore, 2018 Michael Dickson

Honorable Mentions: 2015 Stephen Hauschka, 2021 Travis Homer

Before Tyler Lockett was known as the sure-handed receiver he is today, in his rookie season the Kansas State product was the Hawk’s primary return man, and a dang good one at that. In his rookie season, Lockett made First Team All-Pro as a returner, scoring two touchdowns.

Ott and Bellore both made Pro Bowls as special teamers in 2020, and Jason Myers was automatic (literally) that same year, going 24-for-24 on field goal attempts, including a league-leading 61-yard bomb.

Dickson made First Team All-Pro in his rookie year and has continued to be a quality punter for the Hawks, not missing a single game in his seven-year career.

Rookies across the league reported to training camp this week and most of the Seahawks’ newcomers are no different. With Pro Football Focus and Mel Kiper, Jr. giving the Hawks an “A” on their draft grade, Hawk fans should be excited to see the rooks in action this year. However, there was a concern that two of the more thrilling rookies wouldn’t be at the facility just yet. In fact, this concern was shared across the league as 30 of the 32 second round picks were not signed at the start of this week. With the top two picks of the second round getting fully guaranteed contracts, agents were holding out other second rounders to see what they could get for their clients. (Traditionally, only first round picks get fully guaranteed deals). Amazingly, the Hawks followed the 2025 trend and fully guaranteed Nick Emmanwori’s contract, leaving only Elijah Arroyo unsigned for Seattle.

With Arroyo expected to sign as soon as today, the whole rookie class should be in Renton for practice shortly. With a highly touted rookie class like this one, let’s explore the three most pressing questions for Seattle Seahawks rookies in 2025. Even if it is still July 18.

Will Grey Zabel be above average on the offensive line?

Some of you might be thinking: “really, above average? This guy is a first rounder!”. First, let’s temper expectations for the first year in the NFL. Second, the Hawks would improve as on offensive line unit simply by having average guard play. In 2024, Anthony Bradford was the 72nd best guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Sadly, he was also Seattle’s top rated guard in 2024. Can you imagine if the Hawks had a top 30 guard? With Zabel playing for a FCS program, many experts don’t think he will be able to have that kind of impact in his first year. The Seahawks disagree and are counting on Zabel to solidify the left guard position. If Zabel gets to that top 30 range (with healthy offensive tackles), the Seahawks offensive line changes drastically.

Where will Nick Emmanwori play?

The hope is…everywhere. On draft night and the days after, comparisons to Kyle Hamilton started flooding in. And Seahawk bloggers either doubled down on the comparison or strongly urged fans to ignore the comparison. There was no inbetween. But head coach Mike Macdonald isn’t shying away from the comp. Here is what he told NBC sports about the two players:

“I think what we found with Kyle is that the system allows for us to get multiple safeties on the field and also be in the slot, kind of like with enhanced coverage responsibilities,” Macdonald said. “[Hamilton] can affect the game that way kind of at the second level while training at the third level. Gives us some depth at the safety room, guys that we currently love that are on the roster. To be able to affect the game early on in his career, too, as he starts to develop. Same story with Nick.”

Macdonald employed Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore as a box safety, as a coverage safety, as a slot corner and as a pass rusher. The hope is Emmanwori does the same thing for the Hawks. The best version of Seattle’s defense just might be two linebackers (Ernest Jones and Tyrice Knight) with three safeties in Emmanwori, Julian Love, and Coby Bryant.

Which rookie emerges in camp as the fan favorite?

With veterans playing less and less in preseason, there is always a rookie that fans grab onto as a new favorite heading into the regular season. Inevitably, that rookie usually gets very little playing time once real games start. However, the Hawks have a few first year players that could open some eyes this summer.

The likely candidates for this are WR Tony Horton, RB Damien Martinez, TE Elijah Arroyo, DE/LB Jared Ivey and QB Jalen Milroe. Ivey is maybe the most intriguing because he was an undrafted free agent, but has already opened some eyes from rookie camps in May. However, most fans grab onto an offensive player in August who makes a few plays in games. It has to come down to Milroe or Martinez. While Milroe won’t actually run the packages that he may be involved in come September (as the Hawks won’t want to show those), he will make a run or pass that will have fans buzzing. At the same time, Martinez is a good running back who Husky fans will remember well. In the spirit of Christine Michel, Martinez will get Hawk fans more excited than they should be based on how much he will actually play in 2025.

However, Schneider and the Hawks front office may becoming more predictable. In 2022, Seattle drafted Charles Cross with the 9th overall pick. While Cross was mocked to go anywhere between 13-17 in the first round, the Hawks jumped on a need. In 2023, the Hawks surprised and met expectations with Devon Witherspoon at #5 overall and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at #20. Finally, last year, Seattle took Byron Murphy with the 16th overall pick, making the fan base and draft experts very happy.

So what should we expect on Thursday night? I am guessing a weird year where Schneider shocks everyone with the draft selection. But just in case, here are five potential picks at #18 overall for the Hawks.

Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

Often projected later in the first round, Tyler Booker is the name that sports talk radio in Seattle has been salivating over for months now. At the same time, Pro Football Focus ranked him the 190th best guard in the country last year. Ouch. Booker’s athleticism left a lot to be desired from the NFL combine, thus he is sometimes projected to fall as late as the second round. Other analysts love him as someone that can play right away and be a mainstay on a team’s offensive line for the next decade.

This doesn’t feel like a Schneider selection.

Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State

Grey Zabel really came on in 2024 and jumped up draft boards after displaying his athleticism at the NFL combine. Playing the 2024 season exclusively at left tackle, Zabel could be slotted as a guard in the NFL (and played there in 2023 and 2022 in college at times). Zabel is an elite blocker as evidenced by being top 10 in nearly every scheme possible, according to Pro Football Focus. This selection would get me excited. So of course, it won’t happen.

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

As a junior in 2024, Tet McMillan caught 84 passes for 1316 yards and eight touchdowns. He is ranked the #1 or #2 overall receiver in this draft class depending on how one classifies Travis Hunter. McMillan is NFL ready at 6’4 and breaks tackles all over the place (29 missed tackles forced last year). He is hard not to fall in love with and would sure be fun with JSN and Cooper Kupp. However, the Hawks seem to want to run the ball more so this would be a weird use of a first round pick.

Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

It seems less and less likely that Jihaad Campbell will be available for the Seahawks when they pick at number 18. Pro Football Focus rates Campbell as the best athlete in the draft among linebackers with impressive sprint speed among many attributes. Campbell was awesome last year and would certainly fill a need for the Hawks. In addition to his speed, Campbell produced last year for Bama. With 65 stops (classified as a tackle that means the offense failed), the linebacker was a force. If he is still around at 18, I will be disappointed if the Hawks pass on him.

Kelvin Banks, Jr, OL, Texas

Another player who seems likely to be gone by the time the Hawks are on the clock, but Banks would fill a tremendous need. The interesting part about Banks is that he projects to be a tackle in the NFL, but some teams may draft him to play inside. While the Hawks have an obvious need at guard, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding Abe Lucas at right tackle. After Will Campbell of LSU, Banks is the consensus next best tackle on the board. Is it possible he falls to the Hawks at 18? At least one publication mocked Banks to the Hawks.

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My eyeballs are still bleeding from that Thursday night matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Seattle Seahawks. I can’t imagine what that experience was like for someone watching with no rooting interest. I really can’t imagine what the experience was like for a Bears fan. As bad as the Seahawks were on Thursday, the Bears were even worse. Not only did they allow seven sacks and amass just 179 total yards of offense, they looked as poorly coached as when Matt Eberflus was bungling timeouts on Thanksgiving. The four minute drill by Chicago was atrocious as they wasted timeouts, called horrific plays and ultimately passed on a game tying field goal.

What does this all mean? It means that the Seahawks are still alive for the NFC West crown. Of course they need a lot of help. The simplest way to may week 18 interesting is for the Arizona Cardinals to defeat the Los Angeles Rams. That scenario leaves the Hawks and Rams tied with a game in Los Angeles next week. Should the Rams win on Saturday night, the Seahawks will need four of the following six teams to lose this weekend: Bills (vs. Jets), Vikings (vs. Packers), 49ers (vs. Lions), Commanders (vs. Falcons), Bengals (vs. Broncos), and Browns (vs. Dolphins). The most likely scenario here would be the Vikings, 49ers, Browns and one of the Commanders or Bengals losing. Not impossible, but let’s just all root for the Cardinals.

On to the three takeaways this week.

More Flowers for Leonard Williams

Anyone who reads SeaTown Sports’ Seahawks coverage or listens to our podcast knows that we love Leonard Williams. But how could you not? Williams recorded to top PFF grade for the Seahawks’ defense on Thursday with six quarterback pressures, two sacks and four total tackles. Even more impressive was his work against double teams.

Williams is ranked fourth among all interior defenders in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. His 86.4 grade is the best in his career to go along with his nine sacks. Along with good seasons by Boye Mafe, Jarran Reed, and Derrick Hall, the Hawks defensive line is a bright spot this season. The brightest of them all is Leonard Williams.

The Impact of Devon Witherspoon

It is clear that Devon Witherspoon is turning into an elite corner. He won’t get All-Pro votes and he may not even make the Pro Bowl, but that is because much of what he does goes unnoticed in games. According to PFF, Witherspoon allowed two catches for 14 yards on Thursday. One of those plays was an out route to DJ Moore that Witherspoon was inches away from turning into a pick six. The other was the fourth down play where Caleb Williams improvised and hit Moore for a key conversion. It was a great play by Moore and Williams and Witherspoon still provided good coverage.

But Witherspoon does so much more. He had five tackles, including his first sack, against the Bears. He plays with ferocity and no fear. He provides a physicality that the Hawks lacked after the Legion of Boom left. Witherspoon has 74 tackles on the season and 35 “STOPs” (plays that constitute a failure by the opposing team). Both of those numbers rank first in the NFL among all cornerbacks. Lucky for Hawk fans, head coach Mike Macdonald recognizes Witherspoon’s awesomeness as well. Read more about Witherspoon’s impact here in John Boyle’s post.

The Grubb Dilemma

The Seahawks offense under Shane Waldron was a mess in 2023. Seahawk fans were ready for something new and laughed at the Chicago Bears for hiring Waldron for the 2024 season. Sadly for Waldron, he only lasted nine games in Chicago before being fired. Meanwhile the Hawks stayed home (so to speak) by hiring the offensive coordinator from the Washington Huskies, Ryan Grubb. Anyone who watched the Huskies last year was excited for the innovation and creativity under Grubb, but mostly were stoked for the down field passing that he was known for with the Huskies.

Now after 16 games, the Hawks are nearly the same as they were on offense in 2023.

2023 stats
Points per game - 17th in NFL
Yards per game - 21st in NFL
Passing yards per game - 14th in NFL
Rushing yards per game - 28th in NFL
PFF Offense Grade - 12th in NFL

2024 stats
Points per game - 20th in NFL
Yards per game - 14th in NFL
Passing yards per game - 5th in NFL
Rushing yards per game - 29th in NFL
PFF Offense Grade - 16th in NFL

The inability to get the run game going after the first drive and the lack of creativity on offense in the passing game led to a putrid offensive performance against the Bears on Thursday night. While Grubb designed some great screen plays (specifically for Noah Fant), too many of his passing plays had receivers running at the same depth. If Chicago wanted to know that the Hawks would do on a 3rd and short play, just defend the sticks. Look at this play on the first drive when Seattle faced a 3rd and 3 in the red zone.

With Geno’s troubles in the red zone this year, it was easy to question his decision making on this throw to Tyler Lockett. And question we should! It isn’t a good decision. But look at all the receivers at the five yard line. No one is providing any stress on the defense to create confusion. The Bears can all just play zone in between the Hawks five options and the deep safety doesn’t have to do anything at all. Sadly, this wasn’t the only example from Thursday.

On this play, the Hawks have three receivers all at the 33 yard line and all about seven feet apart from each other. This plays right into the Bears hands as they can defend all three players with ease.

It doesn’t stop there. There are three receivers around the 45 to 43 yard line of Chicago with so much space underneath.

Am I being fair? Probably not. I am just choosing a few plays to show my frustration with Grubb, but the results also speak volumes. When DK Metcalf has no more than four catches in any game over the last five, there has to be a small problem at least. When the Seahawks run for under 100 yards in five of the last seven games, there is a problem. However, Grubb is a clear upgrade over Waldron. Additionally, Grubb deserves a chance to grow as a coordinator and I think he will. The Hawks will have a tough call in the offseason, but I think Grubb should stay and be allowed to show what he can do in a second season.

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Before we get into the takeaways on the field, I need to rant about Seahawk fans and the Seahawk organization. During the Sunday Night Football broadcast, Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico referenced the great crowd and the home field advantage at Lumen Field. They are living in the past. We are all living in the past. The mystique in Seattle and the dominance at home is long gone. The lower bowl, yet again, was full of opposing fans as chants of “Go Pack Go!” could be heard through the television.

The Seahawks are 23-20 at home since the start of the 2019 season. Season ticket holders who once filled the stands are now sitting at home. Other season ticket holders are selling their tickets to make a profit. The result is an embarrassing home field situation. There should be no fear entering Lumen Field and the Seahawks organization is to blame. They have priced out fans who want to attend games with their family and no one seems to care. Is this a rant on capitalism? Maybe. If you want more of that, listen to our latest podcast episode.

I am not alone in this observation or frustration obviously as Hawks fans and bloggers unite over this issue. Hawk Blogger is actually trying to facilitate a solution. Steve Ballmer (yes that Steve Ballmer) is trying as well. There are ways to make this work, but the Hawks organization will need to put their home field advantage over their profits (as will Hawk fans).

On to the three takeaways this week.

A Mess of an Offensive Line

There was a narrative going around the Seattle sports circles that the offensive line had improved in the past four weeks. As the Hawks rolled to a 4-0 record against decent competition, the work of rookie guard Sataoa Laumea and center Oli Oluwatimi were referenced as reasons for the change in mentality and execution. Well, that came to a quick thud on Sunday night.

Laumea got absolutely dominated by the Packers defensive line, giving up 10 quarterback pressures. That is 10. By himself. His Pro Football Focus pass block grade was 1.6. I didn’t even think that was possible. As a collective group, the offensive line gave up 24 quarterback pressures and 15 hurries. They were horrific and continue to plague this franchise.

The Future of the QB Position

I will admit that at times I get frustrated with Geno Smith. I am not sure there is a Seahawk fan that can honestly say that they don’t get frustrated with a man who leads the NFL in red zone interceptions. And I will also admit that at times, I wonder what Sam Howell could do and whether he is the answer moving forward at quarterback.

Sam Howell is not the answer.

Howell put up one of the worst performances in NFL history on Sunday night. No, seriously. As referenced by many different users on X, Sam Howell had five net yards against the Packers. That is the ninth worst game by any QB with 15 or more drop backs in any game since the year 2000. Of any game.

For the Seahawks to have any hope on Sunday against Minnesota, Geno Smith has to play. But what do the Hawks do beyond this year? They have to invest in the QB position with draft capital. There is no guarantee that young QBs will work out so just keep drafting one every year until you find a gem. Start in 2025 and keep Geno on his contract through that year.

The Defense Looked Average Again

The Seahawks defense had a very nice four week stretch. In the four game winning steak, the Seahawks were third in the NFL in points allowed and were dominating on run defense against the Cardinals and Jets in particular. However, that came crashing down in the first half against the Packers. Josh Jacobs had 31 yards on the ground in the first drive alone as Seattle looked unprepared for Green Bay. On the second drive, Jacobs ran off for carries of 19 and 21 yards respectively. The Hawks were down 14-0 and it felt like the game was over with the way the Packers were moving the ball.

Unfortunately, the Hawks don’t have enough talent on defense. Mike McDonald did a nice job in the second half to rally the defense, but it was too little, too late. Rookie Tyrice Knight had his worst game as a professional after four great weeks in a row. Riq Woolen is out here getting eviscerated on social media for his lack of effort and rookie Byron Murphy looks pretty average after a promising start (ranking 87th among DL in PFF grade). The Hawks need to find playmakers and depth on defense to compete with the likes of Green Bay. They simply don’t have it right now.

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All of a sudden, the Seahawks are in first place in the NFC West. From the depths of NFL mediocrity, Seattle did exactly what they needed to do in winning on the road against San Francisco and at home versus Arizona. The Hawks became relevant again because of a resurgent defense and stellar performances by Jaxon Smith-Njigba. To stay in first place, the Hawks will need to continue what they did last Sunday. To learn more about what worked and what didn’t, read below.

Leonard Williams. Enough Said.

In my takeaways from last week, I highlighted Leonard Williams as someone Seahawk fans should appreciate more. After his game against the Cardinals, I don’t think anyone will need that nudge. Everyone appreciates Leonard Williams. The defensive tackle nicknamed “The Big Cat” absolutely dominated Arizona last Sunday with seven tackles, four of those for loss and 2.5 sacks. When Seattle needed him most, Williams delivered with his best game as a Seahawk.

Maybe more importantly than Williams tracking down Kyler Murray was his role in the run defense. After three weeks in a row of average performances (as evaluated by Pro Football Focus), Williams graded out with a 81.5 run defense grade versus the Cards. That tied for his best run defense performance of the year and helped the Hawks hold running back James Conner to just eight yards on the day.

The New Linebackers Just Might Work

There might be another example of a NFL team getting rid of their starting linebackers in the middle of a season and improving on defense, but I couldn’t find it. After giving up 185 yards on the ground to the Giants, the Hawks allowed 228 rushing yards to the Niners on October 10th. Clearly, the run defense needed fixing. Just 13 days later, the Hawks traded starting linebacker Jerome Baker and a fourth round pick to the Tennessee Titans for Ernest Jones. On November 11th, the Hawks released their other starting linebacker Tyrel Dodson. After a solid performance against a great run team in the San Francisco 49ers, the Hawks new starting duo of Jones and rookie Tyrice Knight excelled against the Cards.

Pro Football Focus gave Knight a 77.1 rush grade while Jones earned a 65.9. While Jones wasn’t given a great run defense grade, his tackling was exceptional and he rated higher than nearly every Dodson and Baker game as Seahawks. (Note: Baker has been really good in run defense since joining Tennessee). Only time will tell if this duo can remain a net positive for a defense that was getting gashed, but early returns are good.

The Running Game is Concerning

Before the season began, I would have bet anyone that Kenneth Walker III would have a 1000+ yard rushing season. In fact, I may have bet someone (the Muckleshoot Tribe). Unfortunately, Walker isn’t even close. After putting up 103 yards in the opener and 80 the next week, Walker has been awful. Only once has K9 put up more than 4.0 yards per carry and he hasn’t totalled over 83 yards in any game. And in the game he had 83, Walker did it on 25 carries! Against the Cards, Walker was pedestrian yet again with 41 yards on 16 carries.

The reason for Walker’s lack of success can be fully blamed on the offensive line. According to Pro Football Focus, Walker is the best running back in the NFL. Yes, you read that right. Walker has the best rushing grade of all running backs in the league. However, he has 493 yards on the season. The disparity can be attributed to an offensive line that is flat out terrible. The Hawks second best run blocker (behind Charles Cross) is Olu Olowatimi who has only been involved in 50 run plays this season. The combination of left guard, right guard and right tackle is a horror movie that should not be shown to children.