For the first time since 2015, the Seattle Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl. While for some franchises that might not seem too long, for Seahawks fans, it is a true sigh of relief. No team has had a more interesting rebuild/comeback story in such a short period of time, but on Feb. 8, 2026, the Seahawks will find themselves in San Francisco, once again playing for the Lombardi.
Coming into the 2025-2026 season, the Seahawks were projected to have the 11th-highest win total in the entire NFC, according to NFL.com. That is the 11th in the NFC, not the NFL. That just goes to show how low the bar was set for this season in Seattle.
One of the main concerns coming into the season for the Seahawks was quarterback play. For the past three seasons, Geno Smith had been at the helm. He took over after 10 whole years of Russell Wilson. While Wilson was great and won Seattle a Super Bowl, he had a noticeable decline in his play over his last few seasons. When Smith took over, many were skeptical. In his three seasons, he finished with a mediocre record of 28-23. While the record is winning, the standards in Seattle are much higher. Enter Sam Darnold.
Sam Darnold has had one of the most up-and-down careers known to man. Starting off with the Jets is always a tough origin, and it’s easy to say that Darnold struggled heavily in New York. After parting ways with the Jets in 2021, Darnold bounced around and couldn’t really find a home.
In 2024, Darnold took off with the Vikings. He led them to a 14-3 record. Despite the impressive season, the Vikings ultimately fell short in the wild card, and after that season, parted ways with Darnold altogether. This is how he ended up taking over for Seattle. While many doubted him, he showed up. He threw for more than 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns and once again took his team to a 14-3 record, securing the top spot in the NFC. While he is very much a gunslinger, his supporting pieces helped pave the way.
The Seahawks’ main strength is their defense. The line is stout, and defensive backs like Tariq Woolen, Devon Witherspoon, and standout rookie Nick Emmanwori help shut down opposing offenses. The 2025-2026 defense resembles the historic Legion of Boom teams from the 2010s.
Another interesting aspect of this team is the fact that coach Mike Macdonald is only in his second year. Macdonald is always composed and seems to make the right decision at every turn. However, you can’t talk about the Seahawks without mentioning Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Njigba led the league in receiving yards while adding 10 touchdowns. Njigba is virtually unguardable and has some of the best hands in the league.
After taking down two divisional opponents, the Rams and 49ers, the Seahawks are poised for their Super Bowl rematch against the Patriots. No matter the result of the game, the future is bright in Seattle.
