The offseason has barely begun, and yet the market has already started to take shape. The first Super Bowl odds released by FanDuel Sportsbook function as an early barometer for the league: they don’t tell us who will win in February, but they do reveal who enters the next season carrying legitimate championship expectations. And for Seattle, it’s a clear message that the respect has been earned.
Regardless of which social media platforms you use or which outlets you follow, it was almost impossible
during last season not to read or watch something that underestimated the Seahawks. From the trades of Geno Smith and DK Metcalf to the decision to move forward with Sam Darnold as the team’s quarterback, every one of those moves was questioned — and in many cases, questioned excessively.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Seahawks open the offseason at +750 to win the Super Bowl, making them the favorites to win the Lombardi Trophy in the 2026 season. Behind Seattle are the Los Angeles Rams (+800), Baltimore Ravens (+1200), Buffalo Bills (+1200), and Green Bay Packers (+1300). That initial snapshot places Seattle in a very clear position: not as a potential surprise, but as a team that will be treated as a constant threat throughout the entire season. Once again, the message is clear — the respect is back.
That same market respect also shows up when the focus narrows to the conference level. In the odds to win the NFC, the Seahawks are, unsurprisingly, the favorites at +400. They are followed by the Rams (+450), Packers (+700), Eagles (+800), and Lions (+800). This isn’t an NFC open to randomness; it’s a conference in which Seattle begins the year as part of the race, a very different reality from last season.
Yes, it’s normal for the defending champion to carry favorable odds, but this also sends a message that the market does not believe Seattle’s run was a “stroke of luck.” Reaching the Super Bowl is extremely difficult — as this season once again proved — but Seattle will be fighting to get back there.
A lot will still change. The draft and free agency are likely to shift these odds significantly. On top of that, Seattle still needs to find its new offensive coordinator, a move that will also influence how next season’s projections take shape. For the Seahawks, being treated as a contender at the start of the offseason guarantees nothing — but it completely changes the starting point of the conversation.
