Richard Sherman might have been a great cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks (and, yes, partly with the San Francisco 49ers), but he succeeded because of a high football IQ. He often knew what an offense was going to try to do against him and the defense.
That is why, when Sherman comments on football, which he does often on his eponymous podcast and for Amazon Prime during the season, what he says matters. He also knows the Seahawks well, as he visits camp and lives in the area, so when he believes one way about the team, it pays to heed his words.
Recently, he implied that even though Seattle has a new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, who comes from the 49ers' system that likes to split the run and pass almost equally, the Seahawks could surprise many by throwing the ball more. Why? Because Fleury will use all his skilled players.
Richard Sherman sees a slight change for the Seattle Seahawks in 2026
Sherman said, "I also think they’re going to be more reliant on their passing game...I think they feel really good about what their passing game can become. And Brian Fleury is going to for sure use these guys. They’re going to run the ball, no question about it. But I think they’re going to pass the ball around the yard. You got the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, no matter how much the league disrespects him. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming back, and I think he’s going to continue to be a huge factor in this offense. They’re going to go as he goes."
As Sherman points out, JSN is suddenly going to see the ball less, but he might not have as many catches or receiving yards as last year. The simple reason is that the team must be more versatile in the future. While Smith-Njigba had 1,793 receiving yards last year, he was more than a thousand yards better than his closest teammate.
Opponents will adjust this season to what the Seattle Seahawks did last year, even while Brian Fleury will develop new wrinkles to keep a defense off-balance. 12s will likely see Cooper Kupp be more involved overall, and especially the re-signed Rashid Shaheed, who was impressively impactful on special teams after the team traded for him last year, but not as a wide receiver.
Fans should also expect Seattle to use the tight ends even more. AJ Barner caught 52 passes last year and should see that number increase. It is second-year pro Elijah Arroyo who could enjoy the biggest leap in production, however. He was drafted to be a threat as a receiver, but that didn't develop last season.
Fleury understands how to get tight ends involved, as he has coached the position before. He also learned in the San Francisco system under Kyle Shanahan how to get the most out of the group. They will augment the offense overall, even if Jaxon Smith-Njigba sees a decrease in receiving yards.
Richard Sherman is almost definitely going to be correct in his observation about the Seahawks offense, and not just because he is guessing and knows the team well. Sherman simply knows what makes for a successful football team, and Seattle will likely be that again in 2026.
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