The Return of the Seahawks to the NFL's Elite

The Seattle Seahawks were supposed to be rebuilding. Instead, they finished the regular season 14-3, won the NFC West, and locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Now they head into the Divisional Round at Lumen Field with home field advantage and real Super Bowl aspirations.

The story of the season has been Sam Darnold’s career revival. After arriving in Seattle, Darnold delivered a Pro Bowl caliber year with 4,048 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, leading one of the most efficient offenses in the conference. He enters the playoffs dealing with a minor left oblique injury, but he is expected to play and has made it clear he plans to be on the field.

If there is one player who defines this new era of Seahawks football, it is Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In just his second season, he exploded into superstardom, setting franchise records with 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards. His dominance earned him First-Team All-Pro honors, making him the centerpiece of Seattle’s offense and one of the most feared receivers in the NFL.

Seattle’s turnaround has not been limited to one side of the ball. The defense has rediscovered its fast, violent identity. Devon Witherspoon continues to anchor the secondary with elite coverage and physicality, while the front seven has overwhelmed opponents with speed and pressure. In total, five Seahawks were named All-Pros, a testament to how complete this roster has become.

Now the narrative around the team has fully shifted. This is no longer a feel-good rebuild story. This is a legitimate title contender preparing for a playoff showdown with the San Francisco 49ers in a third meeting this season.

If Darnold stays healthy and Smith-Njigba continues his historic run, the Seahawks have everything they need to push deep into January and potentially reach the NFC Championship Game.

The rebuild is over. The Seahawks are back, and this time they look built to last.