Seahawks’ Nick Emmanwori opens up on facing 49ers, Rams with clear insights.

The Seattle Seahawks faced what many consider one of the toughest divisions in football last season, with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers both earning playoff spots. The rivalries within the division produced some of the league’s most entertaining games, especially as the regular season drew to a close. The Seahawks’ most notable victory over their division rival came in the divisional playoff round.

Before the 2026 season, linebacker Nick Emmanwori reflected on Seattle’s championship run, noting that his introduction to the NFL came during battles with the Rams and 49ers. “I’d say my welcome-to-the-league moment was probably just the physicality of our division,” Emmanwori said on a recent episode. “Playing the Rams and the 49ers, it’s a tough division. I think we might’ve even set a record or something for the most wins within a division.”

In his first season with the Seahawks, Emmanwori appeared in 765 defensive snaps and earned a 71.0 overall PFF defensive grade. He recorded one interception, broke up eight passes in coverage, and allowed a 97.5 passer rating when targeted. He surrendered 56 receptions in coverage and totaled 63 solo tackles in run support and open-field situations.

Emmanwori spoke in detail about the matchups with the Rams. Seattle secured a dramatic overtime win against Los Angeles last December and later defeated the Rams in the NFC title game. “Playing the Rams three times was like every game a chess match, and it was physical,” he said. “It was tough; it was real war out there. It was real football compared to maybe some of the other teams.”

He described the loss to the Rams as a turning point for the season in several ways, cementing the team as a tight-knit unit and sparking a defensive run that helped drive their chase for a championship.

“From that Rams game, we learned to lock in and stay the course,” Emmanwori added. “After that game, we didn’t need big moments or a dramatic meeting; we just reminded each other of what we had to do as a team and as a defense.”

Key takeaways from the season include the Seahawks’ competitive standing within a formidable division, Emmanwori’s significant contributions on defense, and the pivotal role of divisional matchups in shaping Seattle’s trajectory toward a championship run. As Seattle moves forward, the experience gathered by Emmanwori and the team in those high-stakes games will inform their approach to future divisional battles and playoff contention.