Seattle Seahawks fans know all too well the agony of watching their team fall just short of greatness. The franchise’s last Super Bowl appearance ended in heartbreak—a moment so painful that it’s been etched into NFL history. Super Bowl 49 should have been the Seahawks’ second straight championship, but one ill-advised goal-line decision to pass instead of handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch resulted in Malcolm Butler’s legendary interception, sealing a New England Patriots victory.
Since that crushing moment, the Seahawks have made the playoffs multiple times but have yet to return to the grand stage. They’ve been good, sometimes even great, but never elite. And as Super Bowl LVII approaches, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, one harsh truth stands out: there are no former Seahawks on either team.
For Seattle fans hoping to find a reason to root for one side or the other in this Super Bowl, the absence of any former Seahawks players on either roster is glaring. It’s not just a random coincidence—it’s a clear indication of how far the franchise has fallen behind the NFL’s elite.
Zero former Seattle Seahawks players will appear in Super Bowl LIX
Kansas City and Philadelphia have built dominant, well-rounded teams. They have MVP-caliber quarterbacks, playmakers at every skill position, dominant trenches, and depth across the board. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have foundational pieces, but they’re still a long way from assembling a roster that can legitimately contend for a championship.
If the Seahawks were close to that level, wouldn’t at least one of their former players have been valuable enough to land on a team like the Chiefs or Eagles? Instead, Seattle’s talent pool isn’t deep enough to contribute to either of these Super Bowl-bound rosters. That should serve as a sobering wake-up call.
The Seahawks aren’t devoid of talent. They have some legitimate stars—DK Metcalf is one of the most physically dominant receivers in the league, Kenneth Walker III is an explosive young running back, and the defense boasts rising talents like Devon Witherspoon and Tariq Woolen. But what separates Seattle from true contenders like Kansas City and Philadelphia isn’t just a lack of star power—it’s a lack of complete roster construction.
Elite Quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes is the best in the game, and Jalen Hurts has developed into a legitimate MVP candidate. The Seahawks, on the other hand, have Geno Smith, who had a strong comeback season but is still not in the same tier as Mahomes or Hurts.
Dominant Offensive Lines: The Eagles have arguably the best offensive line in football, and the Chiefs have revamped theirs after their Super Bowl loss to the Buccaneers two years ago. Seattle’s offensive line, while improving, still isn’t on the level of these championship-caliber units.
Defense Wins Championships: The Eagles built their defense through relentless pass-rush depth and playmaking in the secondary. The Chiefs, despite being an offensive powerhouse, have an underrated defense that comes through in big moments. Seattle’s defense? It has potential but remains inconsistent and prone to costly lapses.
When you stack the Seahawks up against these two teams, the gap is massive. Seattle’s roster, while trending in the right direction, isn’t built to seriously contend for a Super Bowl just yet.
This year’s Super Bowl should be an eye-opener for Seahawks fans. The gap between Seattle and the teams playing for the Lombardi Trophy isn’t small—it’s massive. While the Seahawks have been competitive, they haven’t been truly great in nearly a decade.
Seeing no former Seahawks on the Chiefs or Eagles is symbolic of where the franchise stands right now: outside the conversation of elite teams. The good news? Seattle isn’t hopeless. The foundation is there, and with the right moves, they can work their way back into contention.
But as Super Bowl Sunday arrives, Seahawks fans might have to accept an uncomfortable truth—their team is still miles away from playing in this game again. And until they make the necessary changes, they’ll continue watching from the sidelines, wondering when their time will come again.