Seahawks’ Faith In Veteran Players Proved All Doubters Wrong

The Cooper Kupp Trade Paid Off

When Seattle acquired Cooper Kupp, any criticism for the move focused on his age, durability, and cost, analysts in the third round questioned whether investing in a veteran receiver made sense during a supposed “rebuilding” phase, let alone a “win-now” era.

Los Angeles dismissed Kupp, the former Triple Crown winner and Super Bowl LVI MVP. L.A. allegedly “urged” Kupp to retire after no teams showed interest in a trade.

Although the relationship between the Rams and Kupp may have ended after the way they handled his departure, Kupp found a new home, coincidentally, where he grew up. Kupp, a Washington native, feels perfectly suited to finish his career in Seattle, where he will now likely retire.

His production appeared quickly. Kupp became the offense’s most dependable third-down target. His route precision contributed to his red-zone efficiency. He also minimized negative plays by consistently converting manageable situations. Instead of chasing explosive stats or trying to replicate his Los Angeles performance, he focused on stabilizing the passing game and mentoring the talented receiver room.

DeMarcus Lawrence Wanted a Super Bowl, and He Got One

DeMarcus Lawrence’s departure from the Dallas Cowboys was widely noted as a move by a veteran in decline. Instead, it became one of the most important additions to Seattle’s defense.

Lawrence left the Dallas Cowboys in March 2025 after 11 seasons. He explained that he left because he “wasn’t going to win a Super Bowl there.” People quickly used his statement against him when he signed with Seattle, claiming his championship hopes wouldn’t be fulfilled there either.

The irony is perfect.

Lawrence’s impact was evident in pressure rates, run containment, and consistent game disruption. The Seahawks’ defensive front improved its third-down stop percentage, increased quarterback hits in the second half, and enhanced its red-zone defensive ranking.

Seattle’s defense not only closed out games but also completely dominated them. They finished as the No. 1 team in defensive DVOA and team defense. That’s a clear impact by Mike Macdonald and the rest of the defense, but you can’t help but feel it’s like fate that D-Law immediately found what he couldn’t in Dallas.

Darnold’s Reputation Rectified

No preseason storyline drew more skepticism than Sam Darnold becoming the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. His career had long been marked by inconsistency and turnovers. Although he had a breakout 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings, his final two games, including a Week 18 showdown with the Detroit Lions for the NFC North and the No. 1 seed, revived all lingering doubts. In those two contests, he completed just 53 percent of his passes, threw one touchdown and one interception, and was sacked 10 times.

So when Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with Seattle in March, reactions were divided. Critics questioned the decision to commit to a quarterback with an inconsistent resume in a division featuring Matthew Stafford, Brock Purdy, and Sean McVay. The concern was straightforward: Could Darnold maintain high-level play when expectations increased?

In 2025, the key change was decision-making. Darnold cut down on forced throws, relied more on checkdowns, and extended plays more deliberately than recklessly. His interception rate decreased, his efficiency on intermediate routes improved, and the offense maintained drives instead of depending only on explosive plays.

There were still challenges. In Week 11, he threw four interceptions against the Rams, but Seattle narrowly lost on a long field goal. By Week 16, signs of growth were clear. The Seahawks erased a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Los Angeles in a historic overtime thriller. After Week 11, Seattle did not lose again.

Darnold didn’t need perfection; he just needed control. He protected the football, delivered reliable fourth-quarter performances, and led a postseason run without a single turnover. Within a structured system, his stability allowed the roster to operate smoothly, and that was exactly enough. Darnold rewrote the narrative surrounding him, winning a Super Bowl before the rest of his stacked QB draft class.

Roster Moves Proved to be Successful 

Seahawks General Manager and President of Football Operations John Schneider made some crucial offseason moves that others doubted, but ultimately helped lead the Seahawks to a Lombardi.

The most notable move was trading star wide receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a second-round pick that turned out to be the future Defensive Rookie of the Year, Nick Emmanwori. DK reportedly also wanted to be traded to a “contending” team, only to be met with a Wild Card blowout. Metcalf’s production was far below what Steeler fans expected from such a big-bodied, hard-hitting receiver. Somehow, Seattle managed to unload a moderate locker-room issue at an incredible value.

The other notable trade that Seattle made was sending QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick, which eventually became QB Jalen Milroe. Although Milroe didn’t start by any means, some regarded him highly pre-draft.

But Milroe isn’t even the most notable aspect of that trade. Fans and analysts were furious over the Smith trade, arguing that Smith for Darnold was no upgrade and that Smith would go on to lead the Raiders to a surprisingly productive season under veteran Seattle head coach Pete Carroll.

The Raiders are now picking first in the draft; Smith led the league in interceptions; and the Steelers are stuck in their endless cycle of mediocre rosters and first-round exits.

Not everyone understood Schneider’s tactics, but the most important thing was the team’s trust in their players. 

The Division Narrative Collapsed

The preseason belief was that the NFC West would reveal Seattle’s weaknesses. Instead, divisional games showcased their strengths, and the Seahawks outperformed their two biggest opponents twice each in a ten-game stretch. 

Physical defense plays a key role in rivalry games. Seattle’s offensive efficiency limited divisional opponents’ possessions, enabling the Seahawks to either dominate the game or bounce back in clutch moments. Seattle managed situational football better than expected contenders.

Finishing ahead of teams widely regarded as superior was both symbolic and statistically significant.

Calling the 2025 Seahawks a “team of destiny” is more about alignment than emotion.

From the 50th season to new acquisitions and letting go of veteran players, and everything in between, the 2025 Seattle Seahawks proved a preseason last-place prediction wrong through consistent execution. Each example could be explained individually, but together, they form a pattern. The Seahawks were not the most touted roster in the league. They were not the most hyped. But they were reliable in the areas that determine standings.

The media predicted last place. Instead, Seattle provided example after example demonstrating that the narrative was flawed from the beginning.