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Why the Seattle Seahawks defense could join the NFL's elite in 2025
The Seahawks’ defense improved noticeably under Mike Macdonald in his debut season last year. The unit is poised for an ascent to the top of the NFL in 2025, leaning on Macdonald’s philosophy and a mix of both new and familiar personnel.
Seattle’s pass-rush was excellent last season, a defensive facet essential to stopping opposing offenses. Up front, the Seahawks were a top-10 unit in quarterback pressure rate with Leonard Williams, Derick Hall, and Boye Mafe combining for 25 sacks. All three will return and four-time Pro Bowler Demarcus Lawrence came over from Dallas this offseason.
Derick Hall improved considerably in 2024, his second season. When asked about what he took from the process and what he’s doing now, Hall said “just the poise and the confidence” and, “last year (I) was playing a lot off strength, but being able to take what I did last year with the confidence and being able to play (with) physicality, all of that, and hone in on the small details and fine tune the things that I do really well.”
Hall went on to preach consistency and dominance. Two pillars of an effective, but simple defensive scheme he enjoys playing for because Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde are invested in developing their players.
Seattle hopes to merge budding talent like him and second-year tackle Byron Murphy with Lawrence to create one of the league’s top defensive fronts. While addressing what Lawrence adds to this pass-rush, Hall said “He’s just dominant” and “being able to learn and grow off his game, and see what he does well, see how he sees things, and why he’s able to make plays that much quicker than I am at the process of the snap, being able to have him, he helps a lot.”
Lawrence is not the only newcomer to the Seattle defense. The Seahawks traded up to select safety Nick Emmanwori in the second round, who Macdonald has mentioned alongside Kyle Hamilton, his former player and one of the most versatile defensive backs in the league.
Emmanwori has experience playing in the box to stop the run and in coverage out of the slot. He admitted he is still working through things in both spots, but echoed the simplicity of Macdonald’s coaching by focusing on “just have(ing) great eyes wherever I’m looking with the motions, or just being in a good position to take on a block, or be in a good position to play man coverage.”
If Emmanwori’s rookie season brings playmaking from different positions, this secondary will be dangerous. He joins Julian Love, Devon Witherspoon, and Riq Woolen on the backend, all of which have made the Pro Bowl.
This Seattle defense will be tested out of the gate against Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers in week one. They are embracing the challenge and want their fans around the world to know it. Derick Hall had a message for international Seahawks fans saying, “ Thank ya’ll 12s, no matter how far, how wide you are, we appreciate the love.”
He finished with “We’re just gonna try to go out and do what we do every Sunday, and that’s be dominant, play fast, play physical, and bring home the W.”
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