The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2025 season criminally overlooked. They had some solid pieces, promising young players, and were coming off a winning season in their first year with head coach Mike Macdonald.
However, not even the most optimistic fan or analyst ever thought they'd go 17-3 and win the Super Bowl. They exceeded all expectations and had one of the most efficient offenses and best defenses in the game.
That's why, now that they're defending champions and will have most of their core back, it feels like they're not getting the respect they deserve. In fact, ESPN analyst Kevin Clark just claimed they're one of the most disrespected Super Bowl champions in recent history. While he makes a valid case for that, it may not have anything to do with them.
The Seattle Seahawks are a victim of circumstances
"Normally, I would laugh at a ‘Nobody believes in us, I have a chip on my shoulder gimmick’ from a Super Bowl champion. In this case, it is incredibly valid," Clark said. "The Seahawks are on the shortlist for most disrespected Super Bowl champions of my lifetime... it feels like the day after the Super Bowl, we started a new conversation about everybody but the Seahawks."
For starters, this lack of respect for the Seahawks might stem from a narrative beyond their control. They beat a New England Patriots team that faced mockery and backlash for their seemingly easy schedule and road to the Super Bowl.
The Seahawks dominated Mike Vrabel's team from start to finish. They were the best team in every aspect of the game and were in full control from the beginning, but since other fan bases didn't think highly of the Patriots, they looked down on that big win.
The other issue comes from within their own division. With Trent McDuffie, Myles Garrett, and now even potentially Aaron Donald suiting up to play for the Los Angeles Rams, they're now considered the team to beat, even ahead of the defending champions.
That's fair to a degree, as they're obviously stacked and well-coached, and all three matchups with the Seahawks came down to the wire and a single possession. Again, the Seahawks came out on top two out of three times, but people often get carried away by big names.
At the end of the day, the Seahawks can only focus on what they can control. General manager John Schneider could've jumped the gun and sold the farm to trade for Maxx Crosby after the Myles Garrett trade, but he didn't.
The Seahawks aren't reactionary, and they won't let the outside noise or any other team dictate what they do or alter their plans. Unlike mainstream media and other fan bases, they know what they have in their hands and what they're capable of.
This team has all the resources to take down any team in the game, including the Rams. Of course, winning back-to-back Super Bowls is almost impossible, but they should still be able to prove why last year's success wasn't a fluke and get the respect they deserve in 2026.
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