The NFL is a business first and foremost, and everyone involved knows it. Former Seattle Seahawks fan favorite Will Dissly was reminded of that fact this week when the Los Angeles Chargers notified him that the team was releasing him.
Dissly signed with the Chargers in 2024 after the tight end had been released by Seattle. He was surprisingly productive in his first year in LA, finishing with a career-high 50 catches and 481 yards receiving. He had always been a great blocker during his career.
That is why the Seahawks chose the Montana product in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. The team never expected him to lead the team in catches, but he started his career extremely well in that area until he was injured in his fourth game and missed the rest of the season.
Former Seattle Seahawks tight end Will Dissly released by the Los Angeles Chargers
In his second season, he played in only six games, but in the following five seasons, he didn't miss more than two. At 29 years old, he might still be able to play for a few more seasons, but he will be coming off two key injuries in 2025.
This is one reason the Chargers released him. He failed a physical following a season in which he hurt his knee and his shoulder. Any team thinking of signing the player will have to take into account how healthy he might remain. He might be 29 in years, but his body might be more like 40 after eight seasons of playing in the NFL.
Still, many Seahawks fans might be OK with having the player known as Uncle Will return. He feels like a Pacific Northwest guy, has a great work ethic, and is beloved by 12s. He also plays the kind of football that new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury would probably like.
Just like under former OC Klint Kubiak, who is now the head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle is probably going to continue to have an offense that runs the ball almost as much as it throws it. This means having tight ends who can block well, and Dissly can definitely do that if healthy.
How much would it cost to sign Dissly? Probably not much. He could make less than $2 million in 2026, and he would first have to pass a physical, which is seemingly in real question. The Seattle Seahawks can afford him, and a reunion would be a nice story, but the team might need to go with an option who is more likely not miss many games.