RSS Seahawks Team Notes

[Seattle Seahawks]

Kirk Cousins explains what makes Mike Macdonald’s defense championship caliber

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 11: Head coach Mike McDonald of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates with fans during the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl LX victory celebration and parade at Lumen Field on February 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Seattle Seahawks are enjoying the second week as World Champions, having dispatched the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX as they laid claim to the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.

So, as Mike Macdonald and the rest of the team work to build out the front office and prepare to assemble the 2026 version of the Seahawks that will defend the title of Super Bowl champion it brings about the first time Mike Macdonald will be in charge of an NFL defense for a third straight season.

Having taken over as head coach in Seattle ahead of the 2024 season, the Hawks finished 11th in the league in points allowed in his first year before jumping up the rankings to lay claim to the number one scoring defense in the NFL in his second season.

Not dissimilarly, in his first year leading the defense of the Baltimore Ravens in 2022, Macdonald’s group finished third in the league in points allowed per game before improving to the top overall spot in 2023.

Which means that in every single season in which Macdonald has been responsible for a defense and the majority of the players in the system have been in the system for more than a season, that defensive unit has finished as the top performing group in the NFL. Of course, a sample size of two is not large, but the reality is that even with such a small sample the ability to turn two defenses around in a span of two seasons with new players and new coaches is a remarkable feat and demonstrates the strength of Macdonald’s defense.

And that strength is something that Kirk Cousins found surprising when the Atlanta Falcons faced the Seahawks during the 2025 season, as he recently explained in an appearance on the Friends From Work podcast.

NFL defenses have gotten more complex. @KirkCousins8 breaks down what makes facing teams like #seattle so difficult. @KyleSchonewill @granthpaulsen #seahawks #podcast #nfl #football pic.twitter.com/ErhSEUtijy

— Friends From Work (@TheFFWPodcast) February 20, 2026

For those who don’t want to watch the clip, or for whom the clip will not play for whatever reason, Cousins explains that one of the things that makes Macdonald’s defense unique is the timing of the post-snap coverage changes. Cousins explains that many defenses will show a two-high shell pre-snap, and then rotate into a single high safety alignment immediately post-snap, requiring the quarterback and other offensive players to adjust to the coverage change.

However, the big wrinkle that Macdonald adds is that the Seattle defense will similarly rotate from a two-high shell into a single high safety after the snap, but with a twist. Specifically, Cousins explains that instead of the safeties rotating immediately after the snap, they stay in place initially, rotating to a single high alignment after a second. This means that the coverage changes mid-play as the quarterback is processing through his progressions, and that when making the first and second reads the coverage and prescribed reaction for the quarterback is different than when he has progressed to his third read, because over the course of completing the reads the coverage the secondary is presenting has changed completely.

This is obviously just one part of the defensive genius that make Macdonald’s defense so difficult on opposing quarterbacks, but it is fascinating to see a 14- year veteran with 167 career regular season starts at quarterback explain that Macdonald’s system forced him to rethink how he thinks about playing quarterback.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...cdonald-seahawks-defense-championship-caliber

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Rams to propose ‘The Zachwards Pass’ rule change from Seahawks Week 16 game

Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

It’s been an interesting year for Sean McVay. Sometimes accepting reality can be difficult, but McVay has taken “refuse to lose” somewhat literally.

He’s had a seemingly impossible time accepting the Seattle Seahawks victories in the playoffs and Week 16, calling the Seahawks lucky after the NFC Championship Game.

Sean McVay called it a “fortuitous bust” in coverage to have two guys peel on Kyren Williams in the flat on the final play on the Rams penultimate drive. pic.twitter.com/S22iocgtqm

— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) January 26, 2026

I asked Demarcus Lawrence about the 4th an 4 stop against the Rams in the NFC Championship

Sean McVay called it lucky
But it was intentional

He explains why pic.twitter.com/YfW8fKNO2N

— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) February 3, 2026

Now, the Los Angeles Rams are reportedly going to propose a rule to change the two-point conversion, the advanced lateral (post-incorrect whistle) known as The Zachwards Pass. Zach Charbonnet picked up what was initially ruled an incomplete forward pass while in the end zone, but upon video review it was ruled that Sam Darnold threw a backwards pass and that Charbonnet’s recovery was a good, game-tying conversion. Seattle tied the game at 30-30, fell behind in overtime, but still won on an Eric Saubert two-point try.

The Rams reportedly will propose a rule change regarding the wacky two-point play by the Seahawks that arguably altered the course of the season. https://t.co/GbgT6fDrwA

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 21, 2026

The actual content of the proposed change is not yet known. Suspicion would be that it suggests a change to either the way the review was conducted, or about when and how a backwards pass can be advanced.

Watch it again here, and while you do, imagine McVay losing his ever-loving mind.

"Is this the craziest 2-point conversion EVER?"

The @Seahawks tie it up in a WILD way

LARvsSEA on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KwNtEIWVQ7

— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2025

Traditional rules do not allow a fumble to be advanced by anyone but the fumbling player in the final two minutes of the half, or on 4th down. Unironically, a two-point conversion does feel somewhat close to either of those scenarios, although it should be noted that backwards passes are technically not fumbles even though they’re recorded as such in the game book. It will potentially be the most interesting rule proposal taking place this offseason.

Not that Seattle was going to put it in their playbook on purpose, but this will be worth monitoring all the same.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...conversation-seahawks-vs-rams-zach-charbonnet

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks News 2/22: Where will the Seahawks offense go from here?

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 02: Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Donald (14) and the offense huddle during the Seattle Seahawks game versus the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on November 02, 2025, in Landover, MD. (Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In Today’s Links: free agency, in all its nuance, how the Seattle Seahawks D became historic, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and his contract expectations, draft talk, and a bit more. It’s a lean Sunday. Hope yall are well. Thanks for being here. Go, ‘Hawks!

Seahawks News

Seahawks exclusive rights free agents – Seaside Joe
Ty Okada and George Holani are easy decisions

Bump: 4 reasons the Seahawks are Super Bowl champions – Seattle Sports
Two weeks ago, the Seattle Seahawks completed their rise to the NFL mountaintop by capturing their franchise’s second Super Bowl title.

Seattle Seahawks 2025 Defense Is ‘Stamped In History’ – Seahawks.com
The Seahawks defense who had a historic season, capped it all off with a Super Bowl win fueled by having no egos, sticking to the mission and exceeding expectations.

Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba: ‘I deserve to be the highest paid’ WR in NFL – The Seattle Times
The Seahawks may now know what the starting baseline for any extension negotiation is with star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Video: Looking at the 2026 draft class ahead of the NFL combine – Seahawks Draft Blog
A look at the 2026 NFL draft class before the combine

Why Seahawks ‘Dark Side’ Defense Was Upset After Super Bowl Win – si.com
The Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl, but they weren’t satisfied after the victory.

The SEAHAWKS Are Defining Their Offensive VISION: Examining The PROCESS That Led To Their New OC – Seahawks Forever w/ Dan Viens
I’m going back through comments from Mike Macdonald, John Schneider, and Brian Fleury about the OC hire — the process, what they prioritized, and the clues they gave us about how the Seahawks offense may look different in 2026. I’ll hit the handful of things that stood out most to me, then we’ll open it up to viewer Q&A on anything: free agency, the draft, roster-building, scheme fits, all of it.

NFC West News

Nick Rallis returns; defensive offseason needs for Arizona Cardinals – Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals are bringing back Nick Rallis as defensive coordinator.

49ers offensive lineman had worst pressure rate at position in 2025 – Niners Nation
1 49ers offensive lineman struggled in pass protection this season.

How Rams can exploit a new NFL market inefficiency – Turf Show Times
Can Rams and Les Snead find their next edge in roster building?

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...-where-will-the-seahawks-offense-go-from-here

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Expect the Seahawks’ ‘Barnyard’ to stick around as NFL push to ban ‘tush push’ cools

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 17: AJ Barner #88 of the Seattle Seahawks stands in a huddle with his teammates during the second quarter of an NFL divisional playoff football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on January 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Seattle Seahawks fans can rejoice in knowing that ‘The Barnyard’ is likely to remain in the fold going forward.

According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Kevin Seifert, there are currently no known plans to ban the tush push for the 2026 season. Rich McKay, co-chairman for the NFL’s competition committee, says that conversations to eliminate one of the most effective short-yardage plays have quieted down for the time being, a marked pivot from the frequent talks to get rid of the tush push a year ago.

“There’s no team proposal that I’ve seen from it,” McKay said following a day of meetings at the NFL combine (via ESPN). “So, I wouldn’t envision it. But you never know.”

Last February, the Green Bay Packers led an effort to ban the play entirely, likely spurred by their wild-card playoff exit against the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. However, the Packers were unable to garner the necessary support from the other owners to succeed in banning the tush push, getting only 16 of the required 24 league owners to vote in their favor. When this proposal was re-introduced in May, it fell two votes shy of meeting the two-thirds threshold. The Seahawks were among the teams who voted in favor of a ban.

Needless to say, many teams have taken advantage of the tush push since the efforts to ban the play have failed. ESPN reports that a total of 112 tush pushes were attempted during the 2025 season, up from 101 in 2024. The Eagles (27 attempts) and the Buffalo Bills (17) utilized the play more than anyone else, although other teams have executed modified versions of the play with tight ends in place of quarterbacks. Philadelphia’s success rate with this play decreased this past season.

The Seahawks notably used tight end AJ Barner in the aptly-named “Barnyard” play, with Barner scoring a touchdown in one such use of the play against the Washington Commanders back in Week 9. Following the NFC Championship Game, ESPN’s Brady Henderson pointed out that the play had been quite successful for Seattle in its run to Super Bowl 60, as the team converted on 10 of 11 tush push attempts between the regular season and the playoffs.

TE AJ Barner extends the Seahawks lead, 38-7!

SEAvsWAS on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/W0s9hrmMJD

— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2025

Other proposed rule changes may come to light as the offseason progresses, but nothing of substance has been brought to McKay’s attention yet. That being said, McKay noted that the committee recently had some discussions regarding playoff seeding and the league’s catch rule, so this may not be the end for this current round of rule changes.

Field Gulls will keep readers in the loop for any other proposed rule changes as they are made known to the public.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...ikely-sticking-around-2026-nfl-tush-push-rule

 

[Seattle Seahawks]

Seahawks offseason plans include new deals for Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 8: Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl LX football game against the New England Patriots at Levi Stadium on February 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When the Seattle Seahawks drafted Devon Witherspoon and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, it marked the first time since 2010 that Seattle had made multiple first-round selections. So far, so good, and the Seahawks have themselves a pair of All-Pro talents and the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.

As the Super Bowl champions prepare for another busy offseason, there will be watchful eyes on the contract situations of both JSN and ‘Spoon. They are entering the final years of their respective rookie deals (pending any fifth-year option decisions), and they’re surely going to be commanding top dollar for their stellar performances. JSN was recently interviewed by Dallas’ WFAA radio about a new contract, and indicated he wants to be the NFL’s highest paid receiver.

“I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba said (via ESPN). “I know my time is coming, and when we get it done, it’s going to be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I believe I deserve to be the highest paid in my position. Just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all, and I think that’s worth a lot more.”

Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase is the current highest paid WR at a little over $40 million/year, while everyone else is at least $5 million below that.

We can discuss the money another day, but ESPN’s Brady Henderson had this nugget in the same JSN article:

The Seahawks plan to work out new deals this offseason for Smith-Njigba and Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who were both first-round picks in 2023. Seattle can exercise a fifth-year option on both contracts by May 1.

The Seahawks had previously never exercised a fifth-year option on their first-rounders under John Schneider, but Charles Cross not only broke that streak last offseason, he received a new contract before the end of this past regular season. Seattle typically does not agree to contract extensions with players who have two years left on their deals, so perhaps Cross is the start of a new process instead of an exception.

Hey, the Seahawks have a healthy amount of salary cap space, and unless you’re of the opinion that the Seahawks are going to forever have seamlessly successful draft picks, this is the price that comes with drafting elite players who will soon command top dollar.

Source: https://www.fieldgulls.com/seattle-...evon-witherspoon-contract-extensions-nfl-news