Seattle’s defense was the story all season, and it delivered in the biggest moment. The unit forced three turnovers, scored a defensive touchdown, and sacked the MVP runner-up six times. While New England’s late-yardage numbers inflated by garbage-time drives, Seattle’s performance affirmed this as one of the NFC’s most formidable defenses in years.
Devon Witherspoon, Seattle’s cornerback and a standout contributor on the league’s top unit, acknowledged the historical angle but said the defense didn’t linger on it. “We were aware,” he said, noting the team could have set a historic mark by preserving the shutout and that they “set a standard” they’ll hold each other to. He added that the Seahawks were frustrated to allow two late touchdowns, though he praised the overall effort.
Looking ahead, Seattle projects to return almost all of its core defensive pieces next season. The group of pending free agents includes CB Josh Jobe, CB Riq Woolen, S Coby Bryant, EDGE Boye Mafe, and LB Drake Thomas. Woolen’s future in Seattle is viewed as uncertain, while Bryant and Jobe figure to be priorities given their roles on the league’s top defense; Thomas could be retained at a reasonable cost, and Mafe could be a candidate to depart.
From a strategic standpoint, the Seahawks’ sustained defensive excellence gives them a clear blueprint for 2026. The offense wasn’t the headline in the Super Bowl, but the defense’s foundation—backed by depth on the edge and playmakers in the secondary—offers a solid base as Seattle aims to improve its complementary unit through the offseason, with room to address free agency and payroll commitments.
In sum, Seattle’s Super Bowl victory underscored a dominant, championship-caliber defense that carried the team to the title and positioned the Seahawks to contend again next season, pending how they navigate free agency and bolster the offense.
