Every NFL season opens with the previous year's Super Bowl champion hosting the first game at home. This means the Seattle Seahawks would have started on Thursday in a normal season, but 2026 won't be normal. The team will likely open on Wednesday, instead.
The issue is that the NFL will have a regular season game occur in Australia for the first time, and that is expected to happen in Week 1, too. Speculation was that the teams playing in Australia, which will be the San Francisco 49ers versus the Los Angeles Rams, could be held on Wednesday, a day ahead of the Seahawks hosting a Thursday game.
That move would seem unfair to the Super Bowl champions, though. Instead, according to Wall Street Journal media reporter Joe Flint, Seattle will host their game on Wednesday, September 9. This marks the first time the season has begun on a Wednesday.
Seattle Seahawks appear set to be opening the 2026 season on Wednesday, September 9
The game will be carried by NBC, and the 49ers and Rams game will be held on Thursday. The schedule hasn't been confirmed by the NFL yet, though. The official release happens in mid-May, though leaks will occur prior to that. Flint appears to be the first to report on Seattle, starting on Wednesday.
The Seahawks don't yet know who they will play in Week 1, and that might not be known until the schedule release. The team does know their opponents for next season, and it is based on the normal rotation of division versus division, as well as Seattle having a first-place schedule, and playing each of the other NFC West teams twice.
The Seahawks also know who they will play at home and on the road. Obviously, one of the home opponents will travel to Lumen Field for Week 1. That could be the Arizona Cardinals, as the two other NFC West teams are playing in Australia.
Besides the Cardinals, Rams, and 49ers, Seattle will host the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears (NFC North division winner), and the New England Patriots (AFC East division winner).
The Seattle Seahawks will travel to play the 49ers, Rams, Cardinals, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles (NFC East division winner), Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos (AFC West division winner), and the Carolina Panthers (NFC South division winner).
Mike Macdonald's team has lost several key free agents this offseason while not yet adding any seemingly impactful players from other teams. Next season is going to be difficult, and that could start on Wednesday, September 9, depending on who the Seahawks play in Week 1.