The story of the 2025 Seattle Seahawks is a spacious and languid narrative that sits best somewhere with elbow room, a gigantic beanbag chair, and a quiet corner. When reading back through the archives, the paths of the combined tales of our beloved squad will be evident from the pretense of overlapping notes and timelines, complementary philosophies, and a Lil Bit of good old fashioned chisme. Our Seattle Seahawks have swayed and bent in the wind like bamboo, and matured with age. And frankly, may
have arrived at a point where despite an earned status as an already legendary franchise (respectively), they now have the opportunity to hammer their initials onto the walls of the American Football story. Over the next several years, the Seahawks may be inevitably better than they’ve ever been.
Those of you that made it to the other side of the above paragraph. I thank you.
Quickly, we can all agree that the Seahawks of the 2010’s were objectively the high point of a franchise that has had some very cool moments. Nonetheless, that thread ended TWICE with a pouty star QB asking to leave the town that openly believed in him before their career had a chance to turn completely over. Coupled with defensive players, several of them All-Pros, who either aged or injured out of the league, or expressed their temperament freely while being transactioned (or both), the team burnt a bit too bright at times and crashed out.
Navigating though life and success with a huge chip on your shoulder is an effective way to live, but it is a hot, fast burn. It is science. The Seattle Seahawks, with Paul Allen, now Jody and the trust, find success focusing the franchise on maintaining administrative and physical excellence. Together with a rare measure of emotional support from a community that goes well beyond the borders of Washington State, our squad has been capable of reaching the playoffs every season for 15 years straight, subjectively. Playing with a chip on their shoulder was the fuel, concentrated and combustive, that accelerated an already good franchise to a great one. But their tanks were empty, their rations low.
A couple of years ago, Coach Mike Macdonald arrived after Pete Carroll was asked to leave. In 24-ish months, Macdonald et al has already established and curated a culture that in many ways surpasses Pete’s in its simplicity and efficacy, while still clearly quoting and maintaining the basic structure of the Win Forever mentality. Is it so daring to suggest that we are better prepared to be even better then we were before? Than we’ve ever been?
The metaphor that I arrived on is that of Jazz Music, who’s reverence is specific and coded, always giving a nod to the genre’s giants while grading modern players. As a lover of jazz, far, deep and wide, I’ll get to the point and decree that contemporary Jazz is objectively better than classic or golden age Jazz. The giants are giants because they are giants, and live in their particular moments forever. But life has never been lived in the past, for it is impossible to recast your life to any great affect. It is science.
Younger players, artists, poets, and voices that are inspired by Jazz immeasurably, and from all eras, and on a daily basis, will always be scientifically proven capable to listen, dissect, replay, and reshape, as their predecessors before them. Colloquially, Mike Holmgren is Django Reinhardt, Pete Carroll is Charles Mingus, and Coach Macdonald is Makaya McCraven. Each era of talent deserves respect and observation, if only to hasten maturity and deepen knowledge. Each era is an evolution, not by choice but by reflex.
Is it so crazy to think that the abundance we have witnessed this past two seasons is the beginning of a decade (or more) of NFC Championship games and shiny rings? Fingerprints on the Lombardi-type beats? Sure, luck and injuries aside, and i know those are biggies. But, am I out of pocket to say that it is obvious that the current version of the Seattle Seahawks, under the leadership of Coach Mike Macdonald and his homies, are built for this?
My answer, definitively, is yes. Love other eras, 100. But, rock your 3 jersey with Emmanwori taped over the Wilson nameplate.. Remember your exes and blow a kiss. Love this one you are with now better. Hold on tight. And don’t be afraid to put a couple rings on it.
Go, ‘Hawks!
