For the second straight season, the Seattle Seahawks finished above .500 — and for the second straight year, they watched the playoffs from home. In 2024, Mike Macdonald’s first campaign as head coach showed promise, especially on the defensive side. But once again, the team couldn’t seal the deal down the stretch. Now, with a new quarterback under center, fresh playmakers on both sides of the ball, and a retooled offensive staff, the question remains: Is 2025 the year Seattle finally gets over the hump?
Offense: A New Chapter with Sam Darnold
The biggest storyline of the Seahawks’ offseason was the transition at quarterback. After failing to reach a contract extension with Geno Smith, Seattle traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders for a third-round pick. Enter Sam Darnold, who’s coming off the best season of his career under Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota — posting 4,319 passing yards and 33 touchdowns.
Darnold now steps into a system loaded with talent. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has emerged as a legitimate WR1, fresh off a 100-catch, 1,130-yard season that earned him his first Pro Bowl nod. The Seahawks also added 2021 AP Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp, signing the veteran wideout to a three-year, $45 million deal in free agency. Kupp brings reliability on third down and championship experience. Seattle didn’t stop there — they also signed vertical threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling, adding a much-needed deep-ball presence to stretch defenses.
Of course, replacing long-time weapons DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett won’t be easy. Metcalf was traded to the Steelers for two draft picks, while Lockett became a cap casualty and later signed with the Titans. Still, the revamped receiving corps looks promising.
Seattle’s rushing attack, which ranked 28th last season, will again lean on Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet. The team hopes that with better offensive line health and schematic adjustments, the ground game will become a strength, not a liability.
The man tasked with orchestrating this new-look offense is Klint Kubiak, who replaces Ryan Grubb after just one year. Kubiak brings experience from stops with the Vikings, Broncos, 49ers, and most recently the Saints. Early in 2024, he was on the short list of head coaching candidates, but injuries derailed New Orleans’ season. Now in Seattle, Kubiak has the weapons and structure to prove he’s more than just a rising name.
Defense: A Rising Force with Championship Potential
While the offense saw major turnover, the Seahawks’ defense is trending up — fast. After ranking 30th in total defense in 2023, Seattle made a significant leap to 14th in 2024, largely due to the emergence of several key players.
Leonard Williams led the team with 11 sacks and re-signed this offseason on a three-year, $64.5 million deal. Joining him up front is former Cowboys edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who adds veteran grit and playoff experience.
The linebacker unit was stabilized by the midseason acquisition of Ernest Jones from the Titans. Jones, who tallied 94 tackles in just 10 games with Seattle, signed a three-year, $28.5 million extension to remain the anchor in the middle. The deal that brought him to Seattle sent Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick to Tennessee.
In the secondary, Devon Witherspoon continues to look like a future All-Pro. The 2023 top-five pick earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection after posting another strong campaign, including an 84.5 PFF grade — eighth-best among all cornerbacks. His partner in coverage, Riq Woolen, added 14 pass deflections and three interceptions, matching the team lead alongside safety Jeremiah Love.
This unit is built to compete with the NFL’s best passing attacks — and it’s only getting better.
2025 Outlook: A Playoff Ceiling or Familiar Frustration?
The NFC West won’t make life easy. The Rams and Cardinals have both improved, while the 49ers, despite offseason losses, remain a perennial contender. That means there’s little margin for error for Seattle.
One area the Seahawks must improve? Home-field dominance. In 2024, they posted a disappointing 3-6 record at Lumen Field — their worst home mark since 2008. A return to a true home-field advantage could swing two or three games in their favor.
Ultimately, the key variable is Sam Darnold. If he replicates his 2024 production under Kubiak, Seattle could very well steal a Wild Card spot — or even challenge for the division. If not, it may be another year of being “just good enough” to miss the postseason.
Prediction: 10–7 Record | Wild Card Contender
This Seahawks team has the makeup of a playoff squad. But whether they finally cross that finish line depends entirely on quarterback consistency and the continued development of their young defensive core.
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