Tag: Seahawks

Feb 11, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) looks on during the Super Bowl LX parade. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Seahawks exercise 5th-year options on WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, CB Devon Witherspoon

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Seattle Seahawks exercised the fifth-year options of star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and standout cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Both players were first-round picks in 2023. Using the option keeps both players under contract through the 2027 season.

Smith-Njigba is slated to receive $23.9 million in 2027, while Witherspoon is expected to earn $21.2 million.

The move doesn’t prevent the Super Bowl champions from signing either player to a long-term extension.

Smith-Njigba recently said he expects to be the highest-paid player at his position. Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase currently holds that distinction with a $40.25 million annual average per his four-year, $161 million deal.

Smith-Njigba was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2025 when he set franchise records of 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards. He also caught 10 scoring passes.

Smith-Njigba, who turned 24 last month, has 282 receptions for 3,551 yards and 20 touchdown catches in 51 NFL games (36 starts). The 20th overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

Witherspoon, 25, was the fifth overall pick from Illinois in 2023 and has made the Pro Bowl in all three of his seasons. He has 249 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions in 43 games (42 starts) for Seattle.

Witherspoon returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown against the New York Giants during his 2023 rookie campaign.

–Field Level Media

Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Seahawks GM: Washington’s new millionaire’s tax will ‘sting’ in recruitment

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The Seattle Seahawks were admired by many for their team building through the draft and free agency, which helped them win Super Bowl LX in February. However, Washington state’s new “millionaire’s tax” could hinder their roster development and player recruitment in the future.

On Wednesday, the Washington state Senate approved a new measure that will impose a 9.9% tax on earnings exceeding $1 million annually. The measure was passed with a 27-21 vote and is likely to be signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, who has already expressed his support for the bill. Payments will first be due in 2029.

It is expected that the bill will affect just 0.5% of Washington’s residents, disproportionately affecting athletes in the state, who make up a large portion of that.

“It’s gonna sting. There’s no question about it,” Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in an interview with KIRO-AM. “All the pro teams here in town, (not having a state income tax has) always been a huge attraction, especially competing with the California teams. It’s been a big deal for us. So, yeah, it’s going to sting from a recruiting standpoint.”

The NFL minimum salary in 2026 for any player with at least one season is set at $1.005 million, so this will apply to any new player the Seahawks are looking to recruit. So far this offseason, the Seahawks have signed three external free agents, all to one-year deals, and have lost key players like Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.

Washington will join California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York — as well as the District of Columbia — in adopting some version of the millionaire’s tax.

–Field Level Media

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Report: Seahawks, LB Drake Thomas agree on 2-year deal worth up to $9 million

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The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are bringing back starting linebacker Drake Thomas, who agreed to a two-year contract with a base of $8 million and incentives for another $1 million, NFL Network reported on Thursday.

A pending restricted free agent with the start of the new league year on March 11, Thomas, 26, became a first-year starter in his third season with Seattle. He was in the starting lineup for 14 of 17 regular-season games and all three playoff games.

Thomas totaled 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, one interception, one fumble recovery and eight passes defensed in the regular season. He added 18 tackles in the postseason.

He played on 68% of the defensive snaps (763) and 33% on special teams (150).

Undrafted out of North Carolina State, Thomas was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders in May 2023 and released on Aug. 29, then signed the next by the Seahawks.

–Field Level Media

Feb 9, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III poses with the MVP trophy during the Super Bowl LX winning head coach and most valuable player press conference at Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Report: Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to hit free agency

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The Seattle Seahawks reportedly are not expected to apply the franchise tag on running back Kenneth Walker III, making the Super Bowl LX MVP an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins next week.

ESPN reported the news on Tuesday shortly after the New York Jets applied the tag to running back Breece Hall. Hall and the Jets have until July 15 to hammer out a long-term contract or he will earn $14.293 million in 2026.

As for Walker, 25, he could become just the fourth player to win Super Bowl MVP and begin the following season on a new team. Larry Brown (SB XXX), Desmond Howard (SB XXXI) and Dexter Jackson (SB XXXVII) are the others.

The deadline for teams to place a franchise tag on a player is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Walker rushed for 135 yards in Seattle’s 29-13 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots on Feb. 8.

The 2022 second-round pick is at the end of his four-year rookie contract which saw the Seahawks pay him a total of $8.4 million.

After rushing for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season, Walker amassed 313 yards and four scores over the Seahawks’ three playoff games. He took over the majority of the reps in the wake of Zach Charbonnet’s season-ending knee injury sustained in a divisional-round win over San Francisco.

Over four seasons with the Seahawks, Walker has rushed for 3,555 yards and 29 touchdowns while catching 133 passes for 1,005 yards and two scores in 58 regular-season games (54 starts).

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Renardo Green (0) defends during the first half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet undergoes ACL surgery

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Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL on Friday, nearly five weeks after he sustained the injury.

Charbonnet, 25, injured his left knee in the Jan. 17 NFC divisional-round victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

While a definitive timeframe for his return has yet to be announced, it stands to reason that Charbonnet likely will miss a fair portion of the 2026 season.

He led the team in rushing touchdowns (12) and was second in rushing yards (730) this past regular season, his third with the Seahawks since he was a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Kenneth Walker III, with whom Charbonnet normally splits carries, excelled in his absence during the playoffs. He went on to capture Super Bowl LX MVP honors, however he is in line to be a free agent.

Walker led the team in rushing yards (1,027) and had five touchdowns during the regular season.

–Field Level Media

Feb 11, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) reacts during the Super Bowl LX parade. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba: ‘I think I deserve to be the highest-paid at my position’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is eligible for a new contract because he has played three seasons on his rookie deal.

While Smith-Njigba says he isn’t pressing the issue, the 2025 AP Offensive Player of the Year said he believes he should be the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver.

“I’m really not too pressed right now to get it done,” Smith-Njigba told WFAA-TV. “I know my time is coming, and when we get it done it’s gonna be a great deal. God’s timing is perfect timing, so whenever that may come, we’ll be ready for it. I think I deserve to be the highest-paid at 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, lot more.”

Smith-Njigba, who turned 24 last Saturday, has one season remaining on his four-year, $14.4 million rookie contract.

“I would play this game for free, I love this game so much, but you don’t have to,” he said. “I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”

Smith-Njigba put himself in position for a big payday after leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards in the 2025 regular season. He also had 119 receptions and 10 touchdowns en route to being selected for his second straight Pro Bowl.

Smith-Njigba didn’t stop there, totaling 199 yards and two touchdowns in three postseason games as the Seahawks won the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.

He has 282 catches for 3,551 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in 51 games (36 starts) since being selected out of Ohio State by the Seahawks with the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase, 25, is the highest-paid wide receiver in terms of annual salary at $40.25 million. He signed a four-year, $161 million contract extension last March.

–Field Level Media

Feb 4, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; NBC Peacock television camera with Super Bowl LX logo at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Super Bowl LX ratings given late boost, still shy of record

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Nielsen adjusted the ratings for Super Bowl LX, bumping the final viewership numbers to 125.6 million.

The Seattle Seahawks’ victory over the New England Patriots was originally reported to have averaged 124.9 million viewers across NBC, Peacock, Telemundo and other digital platforms. Nielsen said the update was to due a Big Data provider not properly collecting data from its devices on game day.

The new figure still makes Super Bowl LX the second-most watched in history, trailing the record 127.7 million who watched last year’s Super Bowl. However, the Feb. 8 game, won 29-13 by Seattle, was the most-watched show in NBC history and drew a combined average household rating of 39.7.

–Field Level Media

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks chairman Jody Allen celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy on the podium after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Seahawks launch formal sale process of franchise

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks are for sale.

The estate of late owner Paul Allen announced Wednesday that it had “commenced a formal sale process” for the franchise.

Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, died in 2018 at age 65 due to complications of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

He bought the Seahawks in 1997, saving the team from potentially being moved to Southern California.

According to Forbes, Allen paid $194 million. The publication’s most recent valuation was $6.7 billion, 14th in the NFL.

The Washington Commanders are the NFL team that sold most recently, purchased in 2023 by a group controlled by Josh Harris for a record $6.05 billion. A Seahawks sale is expected to eclipse the $7 billion mark.

Allen’s sister, Jody Allen, is the executor of the estate and has been in charge of the Seahawks since his death. He also owned the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers, and a sale of that franchise is in progress.

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is under contract to buy that team in a deal valued at $4.25 billion.

Investment bank Allen & Co. and law firm Latham & Watkins have been selected to lead the Seahawks sale process.

In his estate plan, Allen directed that his sports franchises eventually be sold, with proceeds to philanthropic giving.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Northern Illinois Huskies head coach Thomas Hammock watches in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Seahawks hire NIU head coach Thomas Hammock to coach RBs

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Northern Illinois head football coach Thomas Hammock is moving to the NFL, where he will become running backs coach of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Hammock, 44, resigned as coach of the Huskies after seven seasons. He previously was an All-MAC running back for the DeKalb, Ill., program.

Defensive coordinator Rob Harley was elevated to interim head coach on Wednesday, NIU announced.

“Under Coach Hammock’s leadership, the Huskie football program has achieved historic milestones on the field as well as academically over the last seven seasons,” NIU athletic director Sean Frazier said in a statement. “His passion for NIU and commitment to developing young men — on and off the playing field — will be his legacy; I know he has left a lasting impact on the players he coached and on his alma mater. His genuine love for NIU made his decision to leave at this time very tough for him. A Hall of Famer, he will always be a Huskie and I hope all of Huskie Nation will join me in thanking Thomas for all he has given to NIU as we wish him all the best in the future.”

With the Seahawks, Hammock reportedly is set to become the highest-paid running backs coach in the NFL, with input on the offense, as Seattle moves to replace Klint Kubiak. Kubiak was offensive coordiantor for the Seahawks last season, but left after the Super Bowl to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Hammock interviewed to become offensive coordinator and has ties to Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald from their time as assistant coaches with the Baltimore Ravens. Hammock was the Ravens’ running backs coach from 2014-18.

Seattle could be shuffling personnel at the RB position, depending on the status of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, an unrestricted free agent.

Hammock has openly criticized the direction of college football and specifically cited the transfer portal challenges for programs outside the Power 4.

Hammock was 35-47 as head coach of the Huskies with a trademark victory at No. 5-ranked Notre Dame in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) carries the ball against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Report: Seahawks unlikely to apply franchise tag to Kenneth Walker III

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The Seattle Seahawks unlikely are to apply the franchise tag to Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III, according to a report by ESPN.

Walker, who ran for 135 yards in Seattle’s 29-13 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, is not being prioritized as a retention piece, per ESPN. The Seahawks reportedly are prioritizing other pending free agents and likely will work on an extension for star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Walker, 25, would be given a one-year, $14.1 million contract if the franchise tag was applied to him. The former second-round pick is at the end of his four-year rookie contract which saw the Seahawks pay him a total of $8.4 million.

After rushing for 1,027 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season, Walker amassed 313 yards and four scores over the Seahawks’ three playoff games. He took over the majority of the reps in the wake of Zach Charbonnet’s season-ending knee injury sustained in Seattle’s divisional-round win over San Francisco.

Over four seasons with the Seahawks, Walker has rushed for 3,555 yards and 29 touchdowns while catching 133 passes for 1,005 yards and two more scores in 58 regular-season games (54 starts).

–Field Level Media