Can Seahawks Offense Replicate Last Season’s Fireworks?

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Sam Darnold (14) during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. [/caption]

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, the Seattle Seahawks are spending the summer scheming ways to defend their Super Bowl title. While the nation indulges on hot dogs, potato salad, and rocket pops, the reigning champions will dive into preparing for a new season with a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury.

The magic that previous offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and quarterback Sam Darnold created together will be tough to match. It seemed like the offense was a weekly firework show of sorts. Seattle ranked third in scoring and fourth in yards per play in 2025. Of that firework show, the biggest mortars set off were downfield shots to Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Can Darnold and his top receiver recreate that magic with a new scheme and new voice in the headset for 2026?

If it wasn’t for Smith-Njigba, the Seahawks’ offense might have just been a serious mix of mild roman candles and underwhelming Pop-Its. The true aerial shells came to No. 11, especially in play action. Kubiak put Darnold in positions to succeed more often than not, using play action. Only league MVP Matthew Stafford had more passing yards out of play action than Darnold last season. Only Lamar Jackson averaged more yards per attempt out of play action than Darnold.

When targeting at least 20 yards downfield, Darnold ranked fifth in the regular season with 30 completions while ranking second in adjusted completion rate and passer rating in those downfield targets. Not all of those went to Smith-Njigba, either. Rookie Tory Horton ranked second on the team and was trending towards a special season before his year was cut short from a shin injury.

Rashid Shaheed is back after hauling in three passes when being targeted at least 20 yards downfield in just nine games. One of Brian Fleury’s first items of business should be how to unlock more of Shaheed in the deep passing game, and fortunately, there appears to be signs that already has been happening based on reports coming out of the offseason program.

Can the Seahawks repeat that level of explosiveness in 2026? They have the players to do it. Smith-Njigba led the NFL in catches when targeted 20-plus yards downfield. As long as Fleury can keep that connection between Darnold and the defending Offensive Player of the Year humming, the offense will always threaten downfield.

Where the offense can create more opportunities for a fireworks show is with a healthy Horton and a more comfortable Shaheed putting even more pressure on opposing secondaries and helping relieve some pressure from Smith-Njigba as the main attraction.

Another aspect of the passing game that is yet to be fully unlocked is the usage of now second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo. Despite limited playing time, he led all Seahawks tight ends with five targets 20-plus yards downfield. Once Arroyo gets more comfortable as a pro, and if he can stay healthy, that’s a whole new dimension to Seattle’s offense not yet fully realized.

The short answer to the main question is, of course, “time will tell.” But the Seahawks are arguably better than they were to start 2025 with the personnel they have to deploy to create fireworks.

Additionally, this doesn’t have to just be a passing-game issue. Fireworks can come on the ground too, like fountains, ground-spinners, and wheels. In 2025, only De’Von Achane and Derrick Henry had more designed runs of 15-plus yards than Kenneth Walker III. And they both had a significantly higher number of carries. The biggest question mark for the 2026 Seattle fireworks show is: can rookie Jadarian Price and company keep that up now that Walker is in Kansas City?

Hopefully, that part of the show won’t be a dud. The run game is the fuse that lights the show box. Seattle has the offensive line in tact and the signal caller at the helm to repeat that, even with some new faces in play.