Words almost fail to capture how big of an accomplishment is is to make a Super Bowl. Sure, we can get all stat-nerdy and try to contextualize it. The truth is, this has been a magical season for the Seattle Seahawks and the 12’s.
It’s tough to grasp the scope of the moment adjacent to the buzz and excitement that the city has taken on. We can be thrilled to see the team where they are, while realizing that each time Seattle has made it to the big stage has been a memorable watermark in time.
If you
are a certain age, you remember where you were and who you were with when Seattle made their first ever Super Bowl after the 2005 season. That feeling that the solitary outpost of the PNW was finally able to make some noise, buoyed by an MVP at running back.
That jubilation was swiftly replaced by pain, as it felt like Seattle was cheated *couch* REFS!!! *cough*… excuse me. Mike Holmgren will forever be loved in Seattle.
Pete Carroll and John Schneider came on board and built a generational defense that is still idolized and analyzed to this day. Can you recall the incredible vibes that transformed the city? Blue Fridays downtown were a pageant of Seahawk jerseys proudly displayed without subtlety under blazers. The community support was unifying, even to those who were not normally football fans.
The glory days of a Richard Sherman tipped pass followed by an explosive interview, and a dominant Super Bowl performance against the greatest offense in history proved to be the stuff of dreams and legends.
A back-to-back Super Bowl appearance the following year was the stuff of nightmares and infamy. That loss curtailed any momentum towards dynasty status and helped to define careers. Marshawn Lynch may have garnered even more mystique in defeat.
This edition of Super Bowl Seahawks has been elite in their own rights, just seeming to get the job done, even if it’s not always pretty. Which members of Mike Macdonald’s incredibly impressive team are one game away from Seattle sports legend?
Some will look to change narratives; some will establish legacies and others may find paths to different teams because of this game. No matter what, we are on the brink of Seahawks history. Who has that proverbial pen in their hands for this game against the New England Patriots?
Seahawks with volume statistics
We all know the player that put up singularly transcendent stats this year. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has proven to be “Him.” He led the league of stars in receiving yardage and is just coming off of a 10-catch (one being astoundingly one-handed), 153-yard performance in the NFC title game. JSN is probably priority number one for New England to contain. Doing it against All-Pro corner, Christian Gonzalez would feed families.
What we’re not going to do is pretend like defensive line stats don’t matter… especially on this team. They don’t put up fantasy stats or score touchdowns (okay, sometimes), but the twin defensive hogs of Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams will be tasked with clogging the middle and controlling the line of scrimmage. No back in either of Seattle’s playoff games has surpassed 55 yards rushing.
Murphy finished the 2025 campaign tied with Vita Vea for the most QB pressures (33) when aligned at the 0, 1 or 2 techniques. No other player had more than 22. His tag team partner, Williams has the most sacks (18), QB hits (50) and 2nd-most tackles for loss (25) of any defensive tackle over the last two years. These two are a destructive duo looking to wreak havoc on rookie QB Drake Maye’s whole operation.
Ernest Jones IV had a season for the ages, is the team’s defensive green dot play communicator, and serves as an emotional leader of the stop unit. He is the only linebacker with 125+ tackles and 5+ interceptions in a season over the last decade of NFL football!
Jones was the highest-graded linebacker in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, registering a forced fumble and an interception to help bust the game wide open. In the NFC title game EJIV had a team-leading eight tackles against his former team. He was also the man with the famous expletive-laden admonishment of those that doubt the team’s quarterback.
Speaking of that QB…
Seahawks that excel in advanced stats
Sam Darnold and his efficiency are the most national media-friendly piece of this Seattle team. Darnold was labeled a draft bust in his early career, experienced a renaissance in Minnesota, then was cast away for a young draft pick behind him. Sammy D proceeded to prove all doubters wrong end expel the ghost of Rams defenses past. He is now the 2nd QB in NFL annals (Tom Brady being the other) to win 14+ games in consecutive seasons.
Darnold finished 11th in QB Rating (99.1, as only 11 quarterbacks crossed the 99 threshold), tied for 8th in TD% (5.2), 8th in passer success rate (50%), 8th in EPA per pass (0.11) and 2nd in yards per attempt (8.5). He may not have been a volume passer, but he was effective when need be (124 yards passing and a 110.9 QB Rating against SF) and proved that he could play under the bright lights in outdueling MVP favorite Matt Stafford in the NFC Championship game (127.8 QB Rating) against L.A. Doubt is nothing new for him.
Riq Woolen also has a real chance to pilot his future into vastly different waters after this game. He’s also had ups and downs, as well as criticism in his career. Taking a look at the coverage numbers of the soon-to-be free agent corner reveal that he is one of just two guys with 10+ interceptions and 50+ passes defended over the last four seasons (hello, Derek Stingley Jr.) and finished the season 11th in yards per target among all defensive players.
Who can forget the taunting penalty, then subsequently getting toasted for a TD in coverage? He did also have multiple pass breakups in both playoff games, however. The athlete formerly known as Tariq is a volatile performer who can ride into the Seattle sunset with super credentials. Maybe he can remind people of the skill set that allowed him to allow the lowest passer rating against and tie for the league lead in interceptions in his rookie year as well.
And of course, who has more vibes than K9? If Ken Walker goes off, the Seahawks win the ‘ship. Point blank, period. The man is streaking for 4.6 yards per tote and was graded by PFF (88.4) as the number two running back in the NFL.
In the Divisional Round, Walker III joined three likely (in the case of Saquon Barkley) hall of fame backs as the only ones to reach 110+ rushing yards and 3+ rushing TD’s on fewer than 20 carries when our lad, Zach Charbonnet went down. He had over 100 total yards: by land and by air against Los Angeles. Do us all a favor and hand it off to him on the 1-yard line when duty calls.
Seahawks who may have the clutch play/mystique factor
Maybe enough has not been made of the narrative that Charles Cross returns for the playoffs and the Seahawks go score! Seattle reached ~25 points on average against the Rams and 49ers without Cross in Weeks 16 and 18 … and ~36 ppg in the two playoff games against those two with him back in the lineup. This has occurred as the big blocker has fought through a foot injury each week.
The franchise left tackle could enter a new echelon of respect if he helps lead a group that keeps Sam Darnold clean and Kenneth Walker blocked for on Super Sunday.
Rashid Shaheed and the “speed quake” (kick return TD against the Niners in the Divisional Round) will already go down as the fastest scored touchdown in Seahawks playoff history. He showed his versatility in rushing for 37 against the 49ers, then catching a 51-yard bomb against the Rams. Can he turn the game on its head again on the biggest of stages? Shaheed has changed the Seattle offense, changed the manner in which teams defend them as a wide receiver and added rocket fuel to the return game.
If a rookie makes a big play in the Super Bowl, it will be remembered for the rest of their careers… especially if it is one of the top two picks that Seattle made this past offseason. Both Grey Zabel and Nick Emmanwori check each of the above boxes as well. The duo has stepped right in and each has played with star potential as rooks.
Finally, shoutout to head coach Mike Macdonald. He has proven to be a home run hire by John Schneider and a defensive savant. The 2025 Seattle Seahawks rank top ten all-time in DVOA ranking history. The only other team since 2010 to meet that same standard? The Mike Macdonald-led Baltimore Ravens in 2023. Yeah… he’s good.
There are a multitude of other Seahawks worth mention and who will get spotlights in the lead up to the game (Barner, Witherspoon and Lawrence are players with unmistakable swag). We could easily talk about six more who are easy picks to make an impact. It is up to the players, now that the conference confetti has fallen, to brush past all the pomp and circumstance to deliver a vintage Seahawks performance for the ages.
Which Seahawks players have had some of the most memorable performances in your mind? Do regular season narratives affect things for you? Can’t wait to see which players leave an indelible mark on Seahawks history!
