The Seattle Seahawks had several goals they hoped to achieve in 2025. One of those was leading the NFL in fewest points allowed per game. Seattle did that, giving up just 17.2 points a game, just a tick better than the Houston Texans at 17.4.
Entering Week 18, Houston was a tad bit better than Seattle, but the Indianapolis Colts were able to score 30 points against the Texans, while the San Francisco 49ers were only able to score three against the Seahawks. Moreover, Indy was led by a quarterback whom few expected to do well in the last game of the year.
Riley Leonard hadn't started a game in his career, and only got significant playing time in Week 14 after starter Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon and had to miss the rest of the season. Instead of going with Leonard, Indianapolis brought long-retired Philip Rivers back, and Rivers was just meh.
Seattle Seahawks' Julian Love gives a shoutout to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard
But when speaking to the media this week, safety Julian Love gave thanks to a player no one would have expected him to thank at any point before Week 18: Riley Leonard. His comments probably ran deeper than just a surface appreciation, too.
Love told reporters when discussing leading the league in points allowed, "That’s cool. Thank goodness for Riley Leonard."
Leonard and Love do have a connecting line, though. While neither has played on a team together before, both played football at Notre Dame. Julian Love was thanking the quarterback who led his offense to enough points for the Seahawks to accomplish a goal, but he was also thanking a player who went to the same college he did.
Another positive aspect for Seattle Seahawks fans is that Julian Love is healthy and playing again, just in time for the team to hopefully have a deep run in the postseason. For much of the season, the safety was struggling with a hamstring injury. This caused him to only be able to play in eight games, but he did come back late in the season and is ready for the playoffs.
Seattle, of course, has home-field advantage as long as the team stays in the playoffs up until the Super Bowl. If the Seahawks win a championship, Riley Leonard won't be getting any thanks for that, but maybe the former Notre Dame quarterback will give the former Notre Dame safety a call of congratulations.