49ers vs Cardinals

Lore & Background

The offseason saw significant roster changes, as longtime players Tyler Lockett, Geno Smith, and DK Metcalf departed the team. Lockett was released and later signed with the Tennessee Titans, while Smith joined the Las Vegas Raiders and Metcalf was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Key free agent additions included quarterback Sam Darnold, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence, and the team re-signed linebacker Ernest Jones IV to a three-year contract.

On November 4, prior to the trade deadline, Seattle acquired All-Pro returner and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed from the New Orleans Saints. Seattle improved upon their 10–7 record from 2024 and clinched a playoff berth in Week 16 with an overtime victory over the rival Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, ending a two-year postseason absence. The team won 13 games for the first time since 2013 and secured a franchise-record 14 regular-season victories with a 13–3 win over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18.

In a divisional round rematch against San Francisco, the Seahawks earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and advanced to their first NFC Championship Game since 2014. They became the first Super Bowl champion to complete an entire postseason without committing a turnover. Individually, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was awarded Offensive Player of the Year and set a franchise single-season record with 1,793 receiving yards, surpassing DK Metcalf’s previous mark of 1,303 set in 2020.

The Seahawks also posted a franchise-record point differential of +191, breaking the previous record of +186 established during the 2013 Super Bowl-winning season. The defense was the top scoring defense in the league and earned the nickname 'The Dark Side'. NFL statistician Aaron Schatz, using the DVOA advanced metric, calculated that, play-for-play, the 2025 Seahawks were not only the best team in the NFL in 2025, but within the top 10 teams of all time.

They are the third-highest ranked Super Bowl winning team, after only the 1985 Chicago Bears, and the 1991 Washington Redskins. The Seattle Seahawks recorded the highest average home attendance among teams in the state of Washington, with 68,740 spectators per game. This was slightly ahead of the football team of the Washington Huskies, who averaged 68,238, 502 less than the Seahawks.

Reader's Guide

The Dark Side is a nickname used to refer to the defensive unit of the Seattle Seahawks beginning in the 2024-2025 NFL season. The nickname originated within the Seahawks locker room during the 2024-2025 season. It was originally known as the 'death zone' early on, but had become the 'Dark Side' by the start of the 2025-2026 NFL season. It was later referenced in media coverage of the team’s defensive performance, especially following their victory in Super Bowl LX.

During the 2025 season, the Seahawks defense utilized multiple-front alignments and emphasized pressure generated by the defensive line. The unit ranked among league leaders in several major defensive statistical categories, including points allowed per game and takeaways. The Dark Side is frequently compared favorably to the 2010s Seahawks defense, the Legion of Boom. Key players include: Defensive line – Byron Murphy II (defensive tackle), Brandon Pili (nose tackle), Jarran Reed (defensive tackle), Leonard Williams (defensive tackle); Edge rushers – Derick Hall (linebacker/edge), Boye Mafe (linebacker/edge), Uchenna Nwosu (linebacker/edge), DeMarcus Lawrence (defensive end); Linebackers – Ernest Jones IV (linebacker), Tyrice Knight (linebacker), Drake Thomas (linebacker); Secondary – Josh Jobe (cornerback), Devon Witherspoon (cornerback), Riq Woolen (cornerback), Coby Bryant (safety), Nick Emmanwori (nickel), Julian Love (safety), Ty Okada (safety).