Seahawks Prepping for ‘Guessing Game' Facing Overhauled Patriots in Super Bowl Rematch
Playing the same opponent to end one season and open another isn’t completely unprecedented in the NFL, particularly in the event that the two teams who played in the previous Super Bowl just happen to have a rare out of conference matchup slated for the following regular season.
Still, when the Seattle Seahawks kick off their Super Bowl title defense against the New England Patriots, the “same” opponent that they defeated to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara back in February, there’s no question there will be some oddities to the rematch seven months and a full offseason in the making. Beyond playing on a Wednesday night, which has only happened five times previously in league history, including twice on Christmas, the two squads will have some notable differences personnel-wise, particularly for the visitors flying in from Foxboro.
Settling into his first game planning week of the season, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald likes the “change of pace” away from the vanilla days of the preseason in August and has certainly gone back to watch Super Bowl LX as a means for preparation for the Patriots, but he understands the unpredictable nature that always comes with season openers regardless of familiarity with opponent. No matter what, there inevitably will be developments in the game that his staff and players haven’t prepared for and need to audible on accordingly.
“First game of the year is a little tricky,” Macdonald said prior to Saturday’s practice, which replaced the typical Wednesday practice to open a game week given the unique Week 1 schedule. “You don’t want to fall in the trap of applying last year’s things you see too much to what’s going to happen this year. Teams grow and evolve and change and there’s different personnel on both sides. Our focus is trying to do the things that we do that our guys can go play the best they can and also try to apply as much pressure as you can as well but understanding how the game goes, there’s going to be some things that we’re going to be required to make adjustments in game.”
‘Surprised’ Avery Smith Excited to Join Seahawks, Carve Out Role With Defending Champs
Hours before the NFL’s roster cutdown deadline arrived, Avery Smith found himself in the same position as the vast majority of undrafted rookies around the league, restlessly sitting on pins and needles hanging onto hopes of making the Los Angeles Chargers’ 53-man roster.
But Smith’s short NFL journey took an unexpected, rare detour. Rather than being informed by the Chargers that he had made the team or been cut, the former Toledo standout learned that fate had entirely different plans, taking him to the Pacific Northwest as a member of the Seahawks, indeed making a 53-man roster but with a different team than the one he had suited up for since early May.
After scrambling to gather his belongings and embark on the trip north to the Emerald City in a matter of days, Smith’s whirlwind of a week led to him donning a No. 27 uniform in his first practice as a Seahawk on Thursday, still plenty shocked to be in his new surroundings.
“I follow football, and I haven’t really heard of an undrafted free agent getting traded before the regular season,” Smith said, expressing his excitement for joining the Seahawks amid the unexpected. “So that is what surprised me.”
Mariners Officially Call Lazaro Montes to Show; Timely or Too Early?
With MLB roster expansion in September, the Mariners brought on two players to turn the 26-man roster into the 28-man roster for the final month. One was lefty Hoby Milner, who the Mariners picked on a minor league deal Monday after the Cubs released him, and the other was the team’s third-best prospect according to Baseball America.
There is no denying Lazaro Montes’ ceiling as one of the most powerful bats anywhere in baseball. On Aug. 22 in a game against the Sacramento River Cats, Montes cracked a single that left the bat at 116.3 miles an hour. Just 11 players have done that in the majors this year, and that list is something of a who’s who of the hardest sluggers in the game: the worst hitter of that bunch this year is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose bizarre inability to hit the ball over the fence despite his eminent skill has led to a .679 OPS; he’s also the only one of those 11 hitters to sport a slugging percentage less than .400 this year.
That set of players has a fair bit more variation in their on-base percentages, however. Coby Mayo’s .284 means that his extra-base hits only improve him to something of a league average hitter on the whole, whereas Yordan Alvarez’ ridiculous .433 OBP highlights a hitting line that would fit in with Barry Bonds’ prime. At the top level, the difference is made by walks; Mayo walks just 7.1% of the time whereas Alvarez walks 15.8% of the time. Underlying this, however, are the items of plate discipline and contact rate; plate discipline to turn pitches outside of the zone into balls and walks and contact rate to force pitchers to avoid Broadway.
Here is where the question lies for Montes.
“Every season, you’re learning more,” the 21-year-old said a couple weeks after his call-up to Triple-A. “Every year, you’re learning more things that help you be more consistent. Not being perfect, because only God is perfect, but yeah, finding yourself, figuring yourself out more, and achieving that consistency you want.”
Rainiers Roundup: Arroyo, Montes Still Need Tune-Ups, Criswell Rehabs with M’s Triple-A Affiliate
Minor league baseball isn’t the Show and it isn’t college.
With the MLB openly proposing to nix high school eligibility and offload domestic development to NCAA, it’s useful to remember the purpose of the farm leagues. Of course, for the communities these teams inhabit, they provide public events and encourage commerce. On the baseball side of things, their primary purpose is to develop prospects into players.
For the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, who are well out of the Pacific Coast League’s playoff picture deep into the season (having already been a middling team in the first half and sitting nine games out of first for the second half playoff spot - the PCL runs on a similar playoff format to Mexican soccer), the objectives are still the same, more or less, as they would have been were they one game back: develop their top prospects into superstars and keep everyone, regardless of prospect pedigree, ready to go in case the big league club needs them.
“At this level, guys are playing for a lot more than just finishing first,” said Rainiers manager John Russell. “Guys are still wanting to stay ready in case they get an opportunity to go to Seattle or maybe another major league club.”
Organizational depth is the term used in the business for players like Patrick Wisdom, Connor Joe, and Stuart Fairchild. Other players, such as Brock Rodden and Charlie Beilenson, are lower or middle-ranked prospects in the organization who might get a bit of runway if circumstances allow.
The line between these two categories is blurry, as Ryan Bliss can attest. The pipeline from outside prospect to organizational depth typically runs one way in accordance with the will of undefeated Father Time. But the chance to prove oneself at the major league level is motivation enough for plenty of the guys down in Tacoma. If not that, then a sense of duty to his teammates or a hunger to keep playing the game as long as they can. Or all of it.
Amid Lofty Expectations, Byron Murphy II Eager to Elevate Game to New Level for Seahawks in Year 3
Mere weeks after the Seattle Seahawks shelled out record-breaking money to cornerback Devon Witherspoon, on the heels of a similar market resetting contract for Jaxon Smith-Njigba back in March, John Schneider doesn’t want Byron Murphy II thinking about his own financial prospects just yet.
After all, with his third season with the organization set to begin in a couple weeks, Schneider and the front office can’t even negotiate with the 2024 first round pick until next spring. When asked about Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter’s recent contract and if Murphy has been paying attention to the market at his position, the reigning Executive of the Year could be heard jeering the reporter with a loud “wow” as he walked into the building from the practice field, jokingly expressing his distaste with the question bringing up something still many months down the road.
Dishing out a response that Schneider will appreciate, coming off a breakout sophomore season where he emerged as one of the top defensive linemen in the league, Murphy pivoted away from talking at all about a future contract, shifting back to the present and gearing up for the regular season.
“It’s cool to see, but I’m not worried about that right now,” Murphy smiled after briefly sharing a laugh with Schneider from behind the podium. “I’m focusing on me, focusing on what’s happening right now as far as training camp and going into the season.”
While Murphy may not be delving into the prospects of earning $40 million per year and becoming the latest massive contract on Seattle’s books for young stars, at least publicly, the franchise already has started to brace for that possibility behind the scenes, even if Schneider doesn’t want that conversation started just yet. On the way to a Super Bowl win last season, he and teammate Leonard Williams became the only defensive tackle pair on the same team in the league to surpass seven sacks and 50 pressures apiece, wreaking constant havoc on opposing quarterbacks while also being stalwart’s for the NFL’s top run defense.
Is Torrent Draftee Grace Elliott the PWHL’s Most Interesting Rookie?
While top five pick Abbey Murphy will draw most of the attention heading towards her first PWHL season, Seattle Torrent fourth round draft pick Grace Elliott has the upside to be “one of the most unique players in women's hockey.”
That’s according to women’s hockey scout and The Score contributor Kyle Cushman. Elliott was one of two U Sports (Canadian college) players drafted in the 2026 PWHL Draft. She was the 2024-25 Broderick Award winner as the top women’s U Sports player. Last season, she put up a league-leading 24 goals and was third with 37 points in 28 games.
But dominating a lower-level of hockey isn’t worthy of a fourth round pick. The other 2026 draftee from U Sports was taken with the last pick in the draft, and it was by her hometown team. Elliott’s selection comes with a bigger expectation.
“I don't want to frame it as ‘the upside stops with her height,’ because I think that's a disservice to the player, but she wouldn't have the upside that she has if not for her height,” Cushman explained to the Emerald City Spectrum.
‘I Want to Win’: Seeking Career Revival, Trevon Diggs Ready to Help Seahawks Title Defense
Coming off a lost season due to injuries, Trevon Diggs had several potential landing spots on his radar this summer as he aimed to land with a new team, but he didn’t rush into a decision to ensure he found the best fit.
Previously an All-Pro with the Cowboys before a torn ACL suffered early in the 2023 season started a bad string of misfortune on the injury front, Diggs waited out the market after the Packers released him in January, awaiting the right situation to continue his career. After meeting with the Lions earlier in the offseason and drawing interest elsewhere, an impromptu visit with the Seahawks on Tuesday proved to be the perfect fit, and just 24 hours later, he had signed a contract.
Stepping up to the podium to speak with local media for the first time on Wednesday, Diggs made it clear that three things mattered most to him seeking a new team: familiarity at a place that “felt like home,” a real chance to play, and a winning culture. The Seahawks checked off all of those boxes, making it an easy decision to stay in town and sign the dotted line finding the best chance to get his career back on track.
“I’m looking to show that I’m still the best and I’m looking to show that I want to win,” Diggs said. “Be there for my teammates, be a great teammate, be a great player.”
Abraham Lucas, John Benton Share Unique Bond With Seahawks Through Football and Music
Super Bowl champions Abraham Lucas and John Benton have hit it off since Day 1 since they paired up with the Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach's arrival in 2025, building a unique relationship with a shared love for heavy metal music. Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith catches up with Lucas and Benton from the VMAC to dive into their evolving coach/player chemistry going into their second season working together, discuss the importance of developing a rapport between coaches and players beyond what happens on the field and in the film room, pick a metal theme song for several coaches and teammates, and more!
‘Long Time Coming': Devon Witherspoon All Smiles After Seahawks Star Signs Historic Extension
Following a long, drawn out series of negotiations, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if Devon Witherspoon felt like the weight of the world had come off of his shoulders after officially signing a historic four-year, $132 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday afternoon.
However, as he maintained weeks earlier when asked for thoughts on his contract situation, while he acknowledged on Monday that his agent kept him up to date every step of the way, Witherspoon reiterated that keeping his mind on football eased the process. Some players would have chosen to hold out or “hold in,” being in attendance for training camp without actually participating until the ink dried on a new contract, but he didn’t want the situation to hinder his preparation at all for the upcoming season.
Not one to feel the pressure regardless of circumstances, whether on his rookie contract or making more money than any cornerback before him, a smiling Witherspoon thanked his Seahawk teammates for making it easy to stay focused on the task at hand on the field during camp while the front office and his representation took care business behind the scenes.
“It was easy,” Witherspoon said following Monday’s practice. “Like I say, when you come in and you come to work with guys like this, like D-Hall, EJ [Ernest Jones], and Leo [Williams]. When you come to work with guys like that, it means everything. I mean, it's easy to take the pressure off you because now I know what they're about and they know what I'm about. So it's just easy to come out here and just focus on football.”
‘It’s Me Versus Me': Versatile Weapon Velus Jones Jr. Aims to Force Way Onto Seahawks Roster
On his way to the first All-Pro selection of his NFL career, few found success matched up against Ernest Jones manning the middle in coverage for the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Tying for the league lead among linebackers with five regular season interceptions and adding a sixth one in the playoffs, Jones excelled taking away many of the best pass catching running backs and linebackers in the NFL in 2025. But during the dog days of training camp, one player has occasionally proven to be his Kryptonite, and he bears the same namesake, albeit with no relation.
Drawing the assignment of manning up on versatile playmaker Velus Jones Jr. in Tuesday’s 15th camp practice, Jones initially had him covered, sticking to his hip pocket as backup quarterback Drew Lock progressed through his initial read to the right side. But in this case, the do-it-all linebacker wasn’t able to “Keep up with the Joneses,” as the speedy back made a hesitation move faking an inside break before darting back outside, quickly gaining a couple steps of separation on a wheel route.
Even with pressure bearing down on him, Lock showcased his elite arm talent with the flick of a wrist, launching a perfect back-shoulder throw off his back foot to connect on a 20-yard touchdown with Jones, who entered camp listed as a receiver on Seattle’s roster before being slid back to running back after the release of Kenny McIntosh. On that grab, he certainly looked every bit like the converted receiver he is reeling in the pass with soft hands and outstanding body control, proving once again he’s up for the challenge making plays from anywhere.
“It's me versus me. My goal is to be better than yesterday, and so that's the mentality I attack everything with,” Jones said of juggling multiple positions prior to Monday’s practice. “And so anywhere they need me, I'll be pretty versatile. Just enjoying each and every day, trying to push myself to get better and better.”
‘I Can Do Everything': Montorie Foster Jr. Relishing Second Chance as Seahawks’ Biggest Camp Surprise
Taking the snap and moving the pocket slightly to his left, Jalen Milroe scanned the field midway through the Seattle Seahawks’ annual Fan Fest practice at Lumen Field, setting his back foot and launching the football deep down the left sideline.
Normally an excellent downfield passer with a powerful arm, Milroe’s throw seemed to catch a bit too much of the wrong current, running out of steam as the ball floated several yards short of his intended target in receiver Montorie Foster Jr. Most of the time, an incompletion would be the best case scenario on such a badly underthrown go ball, and with two defenders in the area, an interception almost seemed probable as the pass started to descend towards the turf.
However, showing great awareness tracking the football, Foster astutely worked back towards the pass with safety D’Anthony Bell not being privy to the ball coming up several yards short through the air. Taking advantage of Bell’s back being turned to the ball, the second-year wideout reeled the pass in along the sideline and then turned back inside, managing to sprint past two defenders before turning back upfield and outracing the rest of the converging defense for an unexpected 48-yard touchdown reception.
Becoming an expert at turning the unexpected into reality during his first full training camp with the Seahawks, Foster’s latest efforts didn’t surprise Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who has reached the point where he’s run out of words to describe the upstart wideout’s emergence as he continues to stack strong practice after strong practice.
“I'm seeing the same thing as you guys are,” Macdonald said of Foster, who drew praise from receiver Rashid Shaheed after Friday’s practice. “It's great. He's doing a great job for himself. He just really is. I don't have anything else to add, except he's doing a phenomenal job.”
Coming Off Playoff Detour, D’Anthony Bell Blessed to Return to Seahawks With Super Bowl Ring
Under the vast majority of circumstances, having outstanding depth at a position on an NFL roster should be seen as a good problem to have.
But as D’Anthony Bell and the Seattle Seahawks learned last December, having too many good safeties on their roster ended up coming back to bite them with the playoffs right on the doorstep. Facing a numbers game with injuries and roster needs that had to be addressed at other positions, the team waived him just before the new year on December 30, believing he would be able to slip through waivers and return as a member of the practice squad with hopes of getting him back on the roster down the line.
However, the Carolina Panthers decided to throw a wrench in those plans. In the hunt for a playoff berth of their own and familiar with Bell after facing him in Week 16, they put in a claim for the veteran defender once he hit the waiver wire and wound up adding him to their roster for the final two weeks of the regular season.
In the aftermath of the unexpected claim, Bell didn’t suit up for either of Carolina’s final two games, making his lone appearance in a Panthers uniform in a wild card round loss to the Rams with 13 special teams snaps. Meanwhile, his former team notched the No. 1 seed and eventually the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX, bringing home the Lombardi Trophy for just the second time in franchise history.
Battle-Tested Nehemiah Pritchett ‘Making Heck of a Case' for Expanded Role in Seahawks’ Defense
In the heat of a smoky eighth training camp practice on Monday, Seattle Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett walked up towards the line of scrimmage on the left side of the formation tasked with one of the toughest assignments in the NFL: trying to cover Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba initially took an inside release, working his way down the hash before cutting back outside on a corner route. Staying with the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in phase, Pritchett hung in the receiver’s hip pocket out of Smith-Njigba’s stem, putting himself in solid position to be able to make a play on the football.
However, as Smith-Njigba seemingly did to every cornerback who tried to cover him last season, the All-Pro gained a couple steps of separation with his elite quickness out of his break, becoming more than open enough for Sam Darnold to pull the trigger from the pocket. After a subtle push off on Pritchett that may or may not have been flagged in a game situation, he hauled in a long pass from the quarterback and turned up the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown.
Such is life trying to contain the NFL’s receiving yardage leader, something Pritchett knows all too well from battling against him in practice during his two-plus seasons in Seattle, including getting torched in a one-on-one rep in Tuesday’s session. But for the third-year defender, who finds himself entrenched in a competition for the No. 3 cornerback spot this summer, learning to play the game with short-term memory has been critical, understanding that those experiences on the practice field against Smith-Njigba, speedster Rashid Shaheed, and others in a deep Seattle receiving corps will best prepare him for what he will face on Sundays.
Analysis: Entering Rookie AHL Season, What’s Jake O’Brien’s NHL Future With Kraken?
Even though he missed 15 games due to injury, Jake O’Brien led the OHL in assists last season. As a 19-year-old, he is now eligible to make the jump to the AHL next season under the new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement.
What does the Seattle Kraken’s 2025 first-rounder do at an elite level? How can he improve? Is he ticketed for the Coachella Valley Firebirds next season? His Brantford Bulldogs assistant coach Vince Laise and Dobber Prospects scout Alex Wyatt weighed in, taking a closer look at the prospect as he works to get closer to making his NHL debut.
In 53 games last season, O’Brien put up 28 goals and a team-leading 93 points. The last two seasons, O’Brien has had the OHL’s leading goal scorer on his wing. While that’s in part because Brantford built a talented roster that went deep in the OHL playoffs the last two seasons, it’s also because O’Brien’s a top-tier playmaker. Three-quarters of O’Brien’s assists were primary assists last season.
“He didn't look like he was trying to force something,” Wyatt wrote. “He wasn't playing the [video game] version of hockey where he's just whipping in these passes that end up losing possession. He played a more mature game. He slowed things down a little bit, and that gave the team time to get ready for those passes to mean something.”
Anthony Bradford ‘Blocks Out Noise,’ Opponents as Seahawks’ Bullying Guard Finds His Rhythm
In the social media era where anyone can make their opinions known and accessible to everyone with the instantaneous click of a mouse or tap of the touch screen, NFL players face the near-impossible task of avoiding their critics and the vitriol spewed on X, Instagram, Tik Tok, and other platforms.
For fourth-year guard Anthony Bradford, his first three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks have tested that fortitude trying to weather a constant barrage of criticism sent his way by fans and to a lesser extent, analysts. Selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he stepped into the starting lineup early in his rookie season, enduring plenty of ups and downs as he acclimated to trying to block the best defenders in the world.
Along the way, Bradford has seen his fair share of posts and videos, including short clips that went viral highlighting a few missed blocks and using those miscues to create a narrative about his overall play for barn-storming 12s to grab their virtual pitchforks and torches and rally around. But as he has matured under the guidance of coach Mike Macdonald and offensive line coach John Benton, he has been able to drown out that static and maintain a clear, level head, leading to vastly improved performance last season as he helped Seattle march to a Super Bowl LX victory.
While the laid back Bradford doesn’t see it as vengeance or redemption per se, he admitted it felt pretty damn satisfying to hoist the Lombardi Trophy and eventually receive a Super Bowl ring to silence the naysayers.
Staying the Course, Emanuel Wilson Looks to Make Impact in Seahawks’ Retooled Backfield
For NFL hopefuls playing college ball below the Division I ranks, the pathway to the league features no shortage of obstacles, with the most obvious issue revolving around receiving enough exposure to jump onto the radar for scouts.
In the case of Seattle Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson, who joined the team as a free agent in March, the Roanoke, Virginia native spent time with not one, but two Division II programs at the college level, originally signing with Johnson C. Smith University before transferring to Fort Valley State in 2020. Neither institution would be mistaken as an NFL developmental mecca, though Fort Valley has had 14 players suit up for games in the league, including a former first round pick in cornerback Tyrone Poole, making it a challenge to get noticed away from the spotlight on Division I teams.
But throughout his college journey, Wilson’s coaches at both Johnson C. Smith and Fort Valley State regularly preached their belief that he had the skills to earn a shot in the NFL if he took advantage of his opportunity. By his senior season in 2022, scouts started to descend on Fort Valley to get a closer look at the battering 220-pound back, and what once looked like a pipe dream suddenly became a real possibility.
“Once I transferred, [Johnson C. Smith] coach Marquise Flowers, he always told me that I had the talent to go to the next level,” Wilson said. “And when he got the head coaching job, he wanted me to come back, but I stayed at Fort Valley. And Coach [Shawn] Gibbs, he always told me, ‘don't let somebody make you, you make your own self.’ So once the scouts started coming to the practice, I knew I had a chance.”
Seattle Soccer Update: Reign, Dickey Get Back on Track While Ailing Sounders Prepare for Portland
Claudia Dickey isn't exactly easy on herself.
As the Seattle Reign tumbled down the NWSL standings ahead of the June CBA break, winning one of their last six games, the starting goalkeeper took the blame for nine goals the team gave up in that stretch. A struggling Seattle offense went scoreless in five straight games, leaving itself vulnerable to attacks the other way and goals Dickey couldn't have prevented, but the 26-year-old knows the standard she's set for herself.
"I'm tough on myself," Dickey told The Spectrum over the phone on Wednesday.
This past year, Dickey has made four starts for the U.S. Women's National Team, becoming a regular call-up in the lead-up to the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Alongside another NWSL star in Utah's Mandy McGlynn, Dickey has been in a battle as the rights to start for the most high-profile women's soccer team in the world are on the line.
But in all the excitement of last year's June national team camp in Brazil, Dickey suffered what she thought was a muscle injury around her foot on day one of camp. She missed the U.S.'s opening loss to Brazil before returning days later to tab a clean sheet in a 1-0 win over the hosts.
When she got back to Seattle, however, she got a further scan of the injured region and found out it was a bone bruise on the top of her foot, The Spectrum learned Wednesday. She would be sidelined for Seattle's first three games back from the break, watching the Reign go 1-2-0 as reserve Cassie Miller made some spectacular saves in a 2-0 win over Portland.
Dickey, who didn't miss a single game in 2025 after becoming the definitive starter a few seasons after being drafted in the second round by Seattle in 2022, took on the challenge of her reserve shining.
"Being challenged every day in training, like the goalkeeper group we had… we're pushing each other to be the best," Dickey said.
She proved why she's under consideration for a starting spot with the USWNT this past Sunday, making her return to the field to the tune of a career-high eight saves vs. the San Diego Wave in a statement 2-0 win. Diving stops, reflex saves and a trot far beyond the 18-yard box to stop a Wave attack characterized what's come to be known as a typical Dickey performance.
‘Without Him, I Wouldn’t Be Here': How Dan Quinn Continues to Leave Indirect Imprint on Seahawks’ Defense
Exactly a decade before Mike Macdonald arrived as the franchise’s ninth head coach and quickly started assembling his own defensive juggernaut, the Seattle Seahawks built one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history, reaching back-to-back Super Bowls behind the vaunted “Legion of Boom” unit in 2013 and 2014.
Sporting the title of head coach, Pete Carroll deservedly received much of the credit for rapidly rebuilding a once-porous defense into one that likely will have multiple Hall of Famers in Canton down the road. General manager John Schneider also received deserved acclaim for reeling in outstanding draft classes from 2010 to 2012 to secure the foundation of a future Lombardi Trophy winner.
But behind the scenes, after replacing Gus Bradley in 2013, Dan Quinn emerged as the schematic architect of Seattle’s No. 1 ranked scoring defense, calling the plays on the sideline and maximizing on the team’s immense talent. Under his guidance, the Seahawks allowed under 16 points per game in his two seasons as defensive coordinator, carrying the team to consecutive Super Bowl appearances and using that success as the catapult into his first head coaching gig in Atlanta.
Now the head man for the Commanders and entering his third season with the franchise, Quinn hasn’t been employed by the Seahawks for a dozen seasons, far removed from his brief tenure as Carroll’s defensive play caller. Still, in an indirect, roundabout way, his presence has had a lingering impact on the team’s coaching staff, including current defensive coordinator Aden Durde getting his start working for Quinn with the Falcons and eventually teaming back up with him in Dallas, as well as the roster.
Seahawks’ Rylie Mills Looking to ‘Catapult’ Off Super Bowl Heroics With Clean Bill of Health
Drafted just four months after tearing his ACL during the College Football Playoff, Rylie Mills knew the start of his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks would be the ultimate test of patience.
In the midst of a lengthy rehabilitation from reconstructive knee surgery, as the offseason program gave way to training camp, Mills could do little more than watch from the sidelines and hold up blocking dummies. Still far from returning to action, he stayed on the Physically Unable to Perform list into the start of the season, remaining inactive through November as speculation began to mount on whether or not the Seahawks would opt to shut him down with eyes on 2026 rather than bring him back late in his rookie season.
But all along, Seattle had a plan in place to ensure that if Mills checked off all the boxes in his recovery, he would receive the opportunity to earn his way onto the field, even if it didn’t happen until the final month of the season.
By the time the calendar flipped into December, Mills’ hard work and patience finally was rewarded with the Seahawks designating him to return to practice, opening his window to play in games after the long road back to health. Without the benefit of a training camp or any padded practices to help get back up to speed, the transition returning to game action proved to be what he called the “craziest experience” of his football career and then some, as the team threw him into the fire in a Week 15 win against the Colts after just two weeks of practice time.
Reign Legend Lauren Barnes Rejoins Team as Interim Assistant Coach
TUKWILA, Wash. — When Seattle Reign defender Lauren "Lu" Barnes announced that last season would be her final as a player, she made sure to tell media that she wanted to remain a part of the franchise. After all, she had been one of the first players head coach Laura Harvey called when the team was formed in 2013 — Seattle is all she had known as a professional.
On Tuesday, Barnes rejoined the team officially, as the Reign announced she had signed on as an interim assistant coach through the 2026 season. The decision came about a week after Reign assistant Lee Nguyen departed to become the head coach of USL Super League side Dallas Trinity at the beginning of July — league approval processes cleared on Tuesday, opening the door for Barnes to join the team.
With Nguyen gone and the Reign needing to fill the position in time for the second half of the season, Barnes, 37, was at the top of Harvey's mind. It helped that Barnes also had already earned her U.S. Soccer Federation B Coaching License in 2022 — a certification specializing in player development typically at levels below the NWSL.
"(Barnes') knowledge that (she's) gained from playing at the level for as long as she has, being coached in this environment for as long as she has, is the reason I think this would be seamless," Harvey said.
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