Veteran Seattle Seahawks player earns back some respect from around the NFL after a few down years by making prestigious list

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams is coming off perhaps the best year of his career.

A former first-round pick by the New York Jets in 2016, Williams was traded to Seattle midway through the 2023 season. He played admirably in 10 games with the Seahawks that year, but really put it all together in 2024.

Williams appeared in 16 games last season, recording 64 total tackles, 11 sacks, 30 quarterback pressures, three passes defensed, and an interception in which he returned 92 yards for a touchdown — making him the heaviest player ever to do so at 310 pounds.

The folks over at ESPN compiled their 2025 defensive tackle rankings, and after not making the list last year, Williams came in at No. 6 this year. They gave coach Mike Macdonald a lot of credit for helping unlock Williams to his fullest abilities. 

From ESPN: "First-year Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald helped catapult Williams, who took full advantage of his matchups to have a banner season. Williams posted career highs in quarterback hits (28) and tackles for loss (16), an impressive feat in Year 10. He added 64 tackles, 3 passes defended and a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown."

An anonymous veteran NFL coach shared a similar sentiment:

"His play finally matched his abilities last season. He was dominant. Others have been better than him in previous years, but he always had a high ceiling."

Seattle gave Williams a vote of confidence before the 2024 season by signing him to a three-year, $64.5 million contract extension. It was great to see Williams give the Seahawks a good return on that investment during the first year. With DeMarcus Lawrence now in the fold, things could open up for Williams even more in 2025, potentially paving the way for another career year.