Defense still wins football games in Seattle. In the 2026 season opener - a Super Bowl LX rematch on a Wednesday night at Lumen Field - the Seahawks lost starting quarterback Sam Darnold early, fell behind 10-0, and then did what Seattle defenses have done for a decade: they took the game. Three interceptions of Drake Maye later, the Seahawks walked off 13-10 winners, and the loudest stadium in football remembered exactly who it is.
A Defense-First Identity
Seattle's modern identity was forged in the early 2010s, when a secondary nicknamed the Legion of Boom turned the back end of the field into a no-fly zone. Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor patrolled a defense that led the NFL in scoring defense for four straight seasons - a feat no team had managed since the 1950s. When the Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII 43-8, it was the defense that set the tone, forcing turnovers and squeezing the life out of the game before the confetti ever fell.
The Linebacker Standard
At the center of that era stood Bobby Wagner, the linebacker who became the franchise's all-time leading tackler and the quarterback of the defense. Wagner's ability to read, run and hit defined what Seattle asked of its middle linebacker for a decade. When the Seahawks build their next great defense, the standard remains the one he set.
The New Wave
That standard now belongs to a younger core. Devon Witherspoon, selected in the first round in 2023, plays cornerback with the kind of closing speed that turns short completions into losses, and he has become the emotional engine of the defense. Riq Woolen arrived in the fifth round of the same draft and immediately led the league in interceptions as a rookie. Together they represent the next generation of Seahawks defensive backs - fast, confident, and built for the modern passing game.
What the Opener Told Us
Losing your quarterback in the first quarter and winning anyway is a statement about an entire roster. The Seahawks' front seven kept Maye under pressure, the secondary took the ball away three times, and the special teams and run game did just enough. It was the kind of win that does not show up in style points but shows up in January. For a team that measures itself by its defense, it was the perfect opening night.
Wear the Legacy
From the Legion of Boom to the current secondary, Seattle's stitched jerseys carry the story of a franchise that has always believed defense travels. Whether you want the home navy, the Action Green alternate, or a throwback royal blue from the franchise's first era, every jersey in the collection is fully stitched - tackle-twill letters, numbers and nameplates built to last season after season.
The 2026 Seahawks opened the season the way Seattle has always preferred: with a defense that refused to lose. That is why collectors at JerseysHoods keep coming back to the navy, the green and the wolf grey. Explore the Seattle Seahawks collection.