The last time the previous season's Super Bowl competitors met to open the following season was in 2016. The situation has occurred five times in NFL history, and one of those times was with the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle might do it a second time if rumors about Week 1 are true, and the team faces the New England Patriots.
Kirk Minihane of the Case podcast tweeted on Monday that "per sources," Seattle and New England would play to open the new season. The Seahawks, of course, dominated the Pats in last season's Super Bowl.
The move would be disrespectful for a handful of reasons. Sure, the Pats and Seahawks are expected to be good again in 2026, but the league must think that Seattle needs a bigger-market team to play to open the season to draw viewers. That's ridiculous thinking, if true.
NFL's Week 1 opener could be disresectful to the Seattle Seahawks should the New England Patriots visit
But the above isn't why the Patriots traveling to Lumen Field on Wednesday, September 9, would be disrespectful. That's because the league has to know the focus would be on New England for all the wrong reasons. Seattle could almost be an afterthought.
One reason for the attention from the national media on the Pats is the Mike Vrabel situation. The head coach has been embattled for an off-field situation involving reporter Dianna Russini. What the relationship was between the two, with many thinking something untoward, isn't the main issue.
All the talk surrounding the issue is. Speculation will definitely be bandied about far more than how well rookie running back Jadarian Price might play in his first game with the Seahawks, for instance. Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's effervescence? Nothing compared to the Vrabel drama that will get even more attention as we move closer to the new season.
Another potential focal point would be what happens when AJ Brown suits up for New England for the first time. Sure, Brown is still a member of the Philadelphia Eagles currently, but many expect him to be traded to the Patriots after June 1.
The date is important because if Philly moves the mercurial wideout before June 1, the team would be $20 million in the hole as far as cap space. If dealing him happens after June 1, the Eagles would save $7 million.
Of course, the Vrabel drama and the potential addition of AJ Brown shouldn't overshadow the Seattle Seahawks, except that head coach Mike Macdonald's team has always been a bit overshadowed because of playing in the Pacific Northwest. The national media cares more about Boston than Seattle.
When the Seahawks have gone their due from the media is when they have had outspoken players such as cornerback Richard Sherman. Instead, while Seattle does now have talky players such as Devon Witherspoon and great stories like Jake Bobo, the team is full of a bunch of nice guys who don't really naturally drop the drama needed to get the media's attention.
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