What I'm looking forward to this year that isn't quite football
Seahawks headlines that will impact the team even when it's not a game
There are many things I’m looking forward to seeing when the Seahawks take the field next season — a new offensive coordinator, Jadarian Price, prove-it seasons by Sam Darnold and JSN, more potential breakout players on both sides of the ball, and the best punter from any country — but there’s plenty of time to get to those previews.
What are some things happening before we get to Week 1 that will help Seahawks fans get through the next three months until training camp?
Hard Knocks
Although there is expected resistance to the assignment from fans and team alike, Hard Knocks is documenting Seahawks training camp anyway so we might as well enjoy it.
I don’t look forward to doing my taxes every year, but once it’s over it’s a pretty satisfying experience to have survived it again. There’s no writing to the IRS “Hey, this might screw up the rest of my year so can you please skip me this time?” and expecting a pass.
The Seahawks are getting NFL Filmsified and worst case scenario we get to hear Liev Schreiber say things like, “Jadarian Price” in only the way that he can.
Seeing the primetime schedule
I’m not a big schedule release guy in general because it’s also something out of our control and usually misunderstood anyway. Fans will feel screwed by one thing and not care about another thing, only to find out six months later that the thing that they were worried about turned out to be a win and the game they thought was a gimme ends up as a loss.
It’s the same reason that I don’t trust movie trailers.
I love movie trailers, but 99% of them these days are a cover of an old hit song playing over a collection of scenes specifically cut in such a way that you could make any film in history seem like it’s going to be a good time.
However, in the case of the Seahawks schedule this year there is the added intrigue of being the defending Super Bowl champions, drawing five or six primetime games, and knowing that the Seahawks have so many marquee matchups to choose from:
Rams twice
49ers twice
Patriots Super Bowl rematch
Chiefs and Broncos and Chargers (Super Bowl preview?)
Bears
Eagles
Cowboys
The Seahawks also face three teams with former Seattle ties at head coach (the Raiders, the Panthers, and the Moons), as well as Mike Macdonald’s former head coach in Baltimore when they play the Giants.
We know the Seahawks open on a Wednesday (rumored to be the Bears) and that they will get at least one Thursday game (hopefully only one), at least one Monday game (possibly two), and probably at least two Sunday night games.
Seeing the Seahawks primetime schedule will be more exciting this year than it’s ever been before. So good that it will require a cover song that starts, “Hello Darkness, my old friend…”
The 2026 schedule is expected to be released around May 14th, so in less than two weeks.
Which free agent pass rusher will be added?
On one hand, Dante Fowler was drafted the same year as Jameis Winston and Todd Gurley. On the other hand, Fowler was drafted the same year as Leonard Williams.
Fowler has played in 74 of a possible 74 games since 2022. For what that’s worth, he could be all that the Seahawks need right now at edge.
Macdonald’s defense added Jadeveon Clowney in 2023 and his production increased from 2 sacks the previous season to 9.5 sacks; Kyle Van Noy was added the same year and his total increased from 5 to 9 and then up to 12.5 in 2024.
Other current free agent edge rushers include Joey Bosa, Haason Reddick, Leonard Floyd, Cam Jordan, Von Miller, Van Noy, and Clowney.
With a group like that it’s not surprising that Fowler is the rumor floating around. More names will hit the market too and eventually Seattle will sign or trade for a new veteran edge rusher.
The move probably won’t feel like a big deal when it happens, and maybe that player won’t do much to help, but DeMarcus Lawrence wasn’t that big of a deal when he signed either. And Lawrence was drafted a year before Fowler.
I’m ready for schedule release. Last year my release day prediction was 12- 5. Revised to 13-4 after the preseason, then nailed every game for the rest of the year with my bye week prediction. Even at that the Seahawks almost made a lier out of me barely missing a game winning field goal in LA. (My only loss prediction they would have all season at the bye week.)
This is my hope for this year’s schedule. We know week 1 is a Wednesday game. The perfect spot for a Thursday game would be week 2, followed by a Sunday game week 3 and a Monday night game week 4. Four weeks for Fleury to have extra days to make adjustments to the new offense. While we’re on it and picking our own schedule, I’d like the Cards at home week 5 following that Monday night game in week 4. That takes care of 3 of the 5 or 6 prime time games. If we have to play another Thursday night prime time game, let it come right after the Bye. If we have to play another Monday night game, let it be right before the bye. That’s 5 prime time games. If we play more, let them come on Sunday night! If the NFL needs a schedule tweaker, I’m available and work for free.
My preschedule release prediction for the Hawks this year is a floor of 14 wins and a ceiling of an undefeated season. With a hire of Fowler, I think the Seahawks have adequately replaced the 5 players lost in free agency. But that’s not all they did. A number of new coaches have been hired, and this year I think they have a new DC on the team and a possible new OC on the team if our coaching staff gets sniped again after another Super Bowl. I saw some film of our new RB coach from Northern Illinois. I think he’s going to be a great addition. They added an analytics guy for all you numbers guys. They also hired a defensive coach who worked with MM before.
Lastly this is only MM’s third season as a HC. I don’t think it would be out f the realm of reason to predict he’s going to have his best coaching year yet. The young core of second and third year Seahawks are going to more than make up for loss in free agency and the inexperience of the rookie replacements.
Love the idea of "Hello, darkness, my old friend..." in an ad or intro for Hard Knocks or some other primetime game as a nod to the Dark Side Defense!