2025 NFC West Preview: Seattle Seahawks Football

SEATTLE, Washington — The Seattle Seahawks are entering the 2025 season with a new quarterback, a fresh offensive coordinator and a defense that looks ready to become one of the league’s most dangerous.

Second-year head coach Mike Macdonald guided Seattle to a 10–7 record and a playoff berth last fall, setting a franchise record for wins by a rookie head coach. Now, he begins Year Two with more of his own pieces in place — and a clear identity emerging on both sides of the ball.

A Reset at Quarterback

Seattle moved on from Geno Smith in March, trading him to the Las Vegas Raiders. That opened the door for the team to sign Sam Darnold to a three-year deal and hand him the starting role.

Darnold is coming off a resurgence with Minnesota, where he showed better decision-making and the ability to run a balanced offense. Long considered a talented but inconsistent passer, the 28-year-old now gets what may be the most stable situation of his career.

Klint Kubiak’s Offense

The Seahawks also turned the page on offense by hiring Klint Kubiak as coordinator. Kubiak, who worked with Darnold briefly in San Francisco, brings a system rooted in the Shanahan tree: zone runs, play-action, and rhythm-based passing. That familiarity should ease Darnold’s transition and help Seattle establish a more consistent identity.

Offensive Weapons

Backfield — Kenneth Walker III returns as the lead runner, with Zach Charbonnet providing power and pass-catching ability. Together, they give Seattle one of the NFC’s more balanced backfield tandems.

Receivers — The room looks dramatically different after the departures of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, longtime cornerstones of Seattle’s passing attack. Their exits cleared the way for Jaxon Smith-Njigba to step into a starring role after showing flashes in his first two seasons. To complement him, Seattle signed veteran Cooper Kupp, whose precise route-running and leadership should help stabilize a young group.

Behind them, Tory Horton, a rookie out of Colorado State, and second-year wideout Jake Bobo are expected to compete for snaps and provide depth. Horton brings size and contested-catch ability, while Bobo proved reliable in limited opportunities last year. Together, they round out a unit that mixes youth with veteran leadership but will rely heavily on Smith-Njigba’s ascension.

Tight ends — After releasing Noah Fant in July, the position group is younger, with AJ Barner, rookie Elijah Arroyo and veteran Eric Saubert expected to split reps.

Offensive line — Tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas return healthy, and rookie Grey Zabel adds depth on the interior. The line’s ability to stay intact will be a key factor in Darnold’s success.

Defense: Macdonald’s Identity

If the offense is a reset, the defense is the foundation. Macdonald’s unit showed promise last season, and with more pieces in place, it’s poised to take a leap.

Front Seven — Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed anchor the interior, while second-year defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is expected to emerge as a disruptive force. Seattle added four-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence to set the edge, pairing him with Boye Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu in the pass rush. Inside, Ernest Jones IV provides physicality and leadership after re-signing in March.

Secondary — Seattle has one of the most exciting young cornerback duos in the league with Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen, while Julian Love provides steady play at safety. Coby Bryant continues his transition to a hybrid role, giving the defense flexibility in nickel packages. The new addition is rookie safety Nick Emmanwori, whose size and versatility allow him to match up with tight ends, play in the box or rotate deep. His presence adds another layer to Macdonald’s disguise-heavy scheme.

Outlook — Fast, physical and versatile, this defense has the makeup to become a top unit in the NFC. The pass rush is deeper, the secondary is flexible, and the system is in its second year — all reasons to expect growth.

Reasons for Optimism

• Stability at the top — Macdonald has established a disciplined culture and brings continuity into Year Two.
• Balanced offense — With Darnold operating in Kubiak’s system and a backfield built to control tempo, Seattle doesn’t need to rely solely on the quarterback.
• Defensive upside — The front seven is deeper, the secondary is young and talented, and Emmanwori adds a new dimension.
• Youth movement — With Smith-Njigba, Murphy and Witherspoon leading the way, the roster is stocked with young players already producing at a high level.

Schedule Snapshot

Seattle opens the season at home against the San Francisco 49ers, immediately testing both Darnold and the defense. A Week 2 trip to Pittsburgh will provide another early measuring stick. The middle of the schedule includes a favorable home stretch against Tampa Bay, Houston, Arizona and Minnesota. The season closes with road games at Carolina and San Francisco — two contests that could decide playoff positioning.

Oddsmakers have pegged Seattle’s win total between 7.5 and 8.5, but the Seahawks see themselves as capable of more.

Bottom Line

The Seahawks are not in rebuild mode. They are in transition — and possibly ahead of schedule. The move to Sam Darnold under Klint Kubiak brings a new look on offense, while Macdonald’s defense could be ready to emerge as one of the NFC’s best.

If Darnold provides stability and the offensive line holds, Seattle has the pieces to return to the postseason. And if the defense takes the step forward Macdonald envisions, the Seahawks may surprise by contending for the NFC West in 2025.