Feelings after a Second Super Bowl Title for the Seahawks

I realized I hadn't talked about it on here yet, but yes, my Seattle Seahawks are once again Super Bowl Champions!  I don't know if it hasn't fully sunk in yet or if I've almost become numb to winning, but I'm not overly ecstatic about this one for some reason.  I am, of course, very surprised that in Mike Macdonald's second season EVER as a head coach, he won a Super Bowl with us.  He turned us around so quickly.  The unfortunate thing for him is that this will be hard for him to live up to.  But on the flip side, he will be able to coast on this one for a while, regardless of how the Hawks do in the next few years.  I'm going to go over my overall thoughts about this team, what I expect going forward, and if we have a potential dynasty brewing here.

I honestly believe that this defense had a better year than the 2013 Seahawks did.  They were dominant against the run, and outside of Puka Nacua, no star players had a good game against the Hawks this past year.  The 2013 Hawks were hard-hitting and forced turnovers, while this defense just doesn't allow yards or points.  I think the latter is overall better, because they didn't have to rely on turnovers to do well.  

I'm just mostly stoked we have a competitive team with likable players.  Sam Darnold, our quarterback, is one of the most likable quarterbacks in the league after what he has gone through.  Geno Smith had a similar arc and story, but he didn't exude likability.  We know that if we build a consistent winner here, Sam will do what it takes to agree to a contract extension when the time comes, rather than demand a high amount that would hurt the team to give out.

What's crazy about this #1 defense is that there aren't really any huge stars on it.  Sure, there are Leonard Williams, Devon Witherspoon, and Ernest Jones, all of whom have gotten a Pro Bowl nod, at least second-team All-Pro, or both.  But they aren't the marketable defensive stars you see on other teams like TJ Watt, Maxx Crosby, Micah Parsons, Sauce Gardner, or Myles Garrett.  They're just a bunch of dudes.  It's funny that the best defense in the NFL only had one first-team All-Pro in Williams.  It shows the depth of this defense and how well-rounded they are.  Some defenses are poor against the pass, run, or both.  This team is poor against NOTHING.  There is not one situation or type of offense that they are weak against.  They can play heavy or light, whatever the situation calls for.  

I fully expect this team to continue to build, plug in holes when guys leave or retire, and continue to compete each and every year.  And if, worst-case scenario, they have a really bad year, general manager and team president John Schneider has shown he can build a team out given a few top picks, and isn't afraid to dish away a star player to help build a new team.  

It's crazy how the trades in recent years were mocked and lauded, only for them to work out swimmingly.  First, of course, was the Russell Wilson trade, which netted the Hawks multiple firsts and helped them land their stud left tackle in Charles Cross and a stud corner in Devon Witherspoon.  Then, just this past off-season, the trades of DK Metcalf and Geno Smith that netted the Hawks a second and third round pick.  The second round pick would eventually (after a trade with Tennessee) net them stud safety Nick Emmanwori, who was a vital contributor on the Super Bowl team.  The third round pick netted Jalen Milroe, who is a project QB, but I guarantee the Hawks are not going to just let him walk in a year or two.  

Do we have a potential dynasty?  Possibly.  The key will be if they can establish an identity on offense, and either get an offensive coordinator who will stick around, or establish an identity well enough so that it doesn't particularly matter who the OC is, as long as they stick to the script.  I think we're going to see a very competitive team from the Seahawks for the next several years, and I would not be surprised in the slightest if we saw another Super Bowl appearance or win.  I think best-case scenario we have a borderline dynasty, one that we could argue is a dynasty or not, similar to the Legion of Boom years in the 2010s.  

One thing that is potentially looming is the sale of the team.  Rumors have started sprouting about the team possibly going for sale.  If you have a good ownership situation, you do not want your team sold, but unfortunately, it will have to happen at some point, due to Paul Allen's passing and his sister Jodi serving as the temporary chairperson.  If the Hawks can get a good owner or a good ownership group, we should be ok.  I worry that the Hawks could go into someone's hands, like Jeff Bezos, who would only want to use the Hawks to further line his pockets and not be emotionally invested in the team.  I'll likely most a post about my thoughts when that happens, so I'll worry about that when the time comes.  

Ownership aside, I'm excited for the future.  Mike Macdonald will likely be our coach for a long time, and we know he's a good one.  And he seems like the kind of guy who isn't set in his ways, and is willing to evolve and change as the NFL game evolves and changes.  That's not something I could say about his predecessor.  And Sam Darnold, our QB, is already one of the top QB's in team history after just one year, so hopefully, he will grow and evolve as well and be a Seahawk for a long time, too.

It Hurts

To be one game away from our first World Series appearance... it hurts.  We had not one but two shots at clinching our first ever pennant, and we blew it both times.  We had a chance to even clinch on our home field, if we could just win 2 of 3 at home, but we couldn't.  As a lifelong Mariners fan, you wonder if it will ever truly be your year, your time to shine, and your chance for happiness.  The Mariners have now played 49 seasons.  At most, they've played with 14 other American League teams, so the law of averages would state they would be the final AL team about 3 times so far in their history.  Nope.  Not even once.  The Mariners have now been one step shy of the World Series four times, and all four times have failed.  I think I can begin to relate to how Buffalo Bills fans feel, how they were one step short of a Super Bowl win four times and failed all four times.  It doesn't seem remotely likely, yet it happened.  

I have to remember that after barely missing the playoffs the last two seasons, expectations were tempered for 2025.  Heck, even heading into September this year, the Mariners were at best expected to be a wild card.  But they went out and won the division for the first time in 24 years.  That was one milestone this team was long overdue to accomplish.  And, when they weren't expected to, they went out and did it.  

Now comes a crossroads for this team.  Will they continue to try to improve and take a step forward, or will they take a step back?  This may be the most important offseason in Mariners history.  Expectations are likely going to be high for this team in 2026.  Anything short of back-to-back division titles will likely be a disappointment.  

I think one of the most crucial factors that will determine this team's success next season, and their overall long-term success, is how they handle this heartbreak mentally.  Will they let it haunt them, or will they use it as motivation?  Cal Raleigh is now this team's vocal leader, so he'll need to lead by example, which he has so far done as a big league catcher.  In my mind, he's the MVP for that reason.  

But we have to continue to temper our expectations for the next season.  We expect too much, and disappointment becomes ever more likely.  I want to say this team will continue where they left off in 2025, but we have seen collapses before.  After the Seahawks lost Super Bowl XLIX, they could not handle it all too well, and they struggled out of the gate the following season and still to this day have not even returned to the NFC Championship game.  

But we can also be optimistic.  But I would advise caution.  This is a team that would rank near the bottom in MLB in terms of success vs. the age of the franchise.  They play their 50th season in 2026, and the question is, will it be a memorable one?  I would wager to say yes.  But will it be memorable for the right reasons?  That remains to be seen.