Defending champion Seahawks embrace 'underdog' narrative for 2026

Seattle feels overlooked despite Super Bowl title.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 121 min read

From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Seahawks seem to feel like the world doesn't respect them. They may be right. htt Via @RapSheet on X

What happened: The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly adopting a "lack of respect" narrative as they prepare to defend their Super Bowl LX title. According to Ian Rapoport, the organization feels undervalued by national media and preseason projections that have increasingly focused on rival NFC West contenders.

Why it matters: Despite a dominant 13-4 campaign in 2025, the Seahawks face skepticism regarding their ability to repeat as champions. The internal focus on culture follows comments from AJ Barner regarding the team's young roster and the high expectations set by head coach Mike Macdonald.

By the numbers: Seattle finished the 2025 season with a 13-4 record and the NFL's top-ranked defense. The team recently signed Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a record-breaking $168.8 million contract extension, the largest in history for a wide receiver.

What to watch: The Seahawks will conclude their offseason program this month before returning for training camp in late July. The ongoing sale of the franchise, valued at up to $10 billion, remains a primary off-field storyline.

Sources

@RapSheet 2026-06-12T23:34:01.521243+00:00

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