What did we learn about the Seattle Seahawks after the first episode of HBO’s 2026 Hard Knocks? Well, we learned that the Seahawks are taking defense of their Super Bowl title seriously. And that Mike Macdonald is about as centered and down-to-earth as a successful NFL coach can be. We learned not to pick up a goat unless you are wearing old clothes you care nothing about.
And we learned that there may be a new star on the team.
I am not talking about prized rookie Jadarian Price. To be sure, the first-round draft pick who is penciled in to take Kenneth Walker’s role in the offense looked great. He darted in and around tacklers. He caught passes. He looked fast and quick and dangerous.
Seattle Seahawks look primed and ready to defend their title in 2026
But anyone who has played will say you cannot judge a running back when he is wearing gym shorts. Price may well be the real deal, but we’ll have to wait for the pads to go on and the hitting to start in earnest before we can say that with any semblance of certainty. But we can say something about his new position coach right now.
It took Thomas Hammock one scene to steal the show in Hard Knocks, episode one. Hammock is taking over as running backs coach for Kennedy Polamalu, who took an unspecified leave of absence late in 2025. When the HBO program visited Hammock in the running backs’ room, we got a taste of what it will be like for his backs this year.
Normally, this is around the point where I would give you a Hammock quote. I can’t do that. This is a family column, and the new coach didn’t go more than about four words without dropping one curse word or another. The intensity was palpable
Seattle is missing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from injury. The running back position has more questions than any other on the club. But if Hammock has any say in the matter, those backs will come out breathing fire.
He spent close to five minutes exhorting them on how to put this without having to bleep myself? Suffice to say, he wants his backs to have a commanding physical presence, whether the pads are on or not.
Hammock and his running backs were not the only highlights of episode one. In no particular order, here are seven other things that stood out.
Derick Hall has a really cool truck. And really short shorts. And he is one of the only players you'll find who is both brave enough and crazy enough to wrestle Leonard Williams. I would not advise that this become a regular thing.
We learned that Cooper Kupp’s value goes well beyond what he does on the field. There was a bit of early foreshadowing when the players heard about LeBron James’ decision to sign with Philadelphia. As they all react, Kupp mentions the value in the former star going to a new club and accepting a new role – one as a facilitator who helps the younger stars to shine.
Later, Jaxon Smith-Njigba confirms that is exactly what Kupp has done since coming to Seattle, describing the veteran as an on-field “cheat code” for the receivers.
And, speaking of JSN, we learned that … OMG … do the fans love him. Sam Darnold and others got love too, but not the euphoria that greeted the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
We learned that Devon Witherspoon is focused on winning. He is not “holding in,” as other stars in pursuit of a new contract may be doing. He recognizes his value and wants to be paid, but he is leaving that up to others to work out. He is there to play football.
We learned that Mike Macdonald has a quiet, firm, fatherly way of getting his point across, as he does when defusing a potential issue between Brady Russell and Derick Hall. Russell, it should be noted, may have been out of sorts after getting peed on by a goat. Enough said about that. As for Macdonald, he just wants his guys to stick to playing football.
That may be the ultimate takeaway from the first episode of Hard Knocks. This team, from the coaches on down, just loves playing football. They all talked about it. Sure, it’s fun to win championships and cash the big check, but you definitely get the feeling watching this that these guys would be playing this game for a burger and a beer.
I mean, 12-year veteran Demarcus Lawrence, who admitted he considered retiring after the Super Bowl, positively beamed after watching fellow defensive lineman Brandon Pili throw up on the field. They are just all so happy to be playing football again.
I don’t know if they will defend their title, but I do know they will be fun to watch this year.
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