Every Seattle Seahawks fan knows DK Metcalf can be maddeningly inconsistent. But they also know that he could do things on a football field that few players in the history of the NFL have been capable of. NFL fans in Dublin, Ireland, got an up-close-and-personal look at that rare set of skills on Sunday.
Early in the second quarter, with his Pittsburgh Steelers already up 7-3 over the Minnesota Vikings, Metcalf took a short post 80 yards for a touchdown and a 14-3 Steeler lead. It was the second-longest reception of Metcalf’s career. He had an 84-yarder against New Orleans back in 2021.
And it revealed an aspect that the Seahawks’ are clearly missing thus far in the 2025 season.
There are few splash-play receivers in the NFL like former Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf
To be sure, Seattle’s offense under first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is coming along nicely. After a week-one dud against San Francisco, Seattle has won three straight, averaging better than 30 points per game.
Though the Hawks are relying heavily on their defense and on running the ball, the passing attack is coming along. Top wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba dominated the targets in that first game, but Sam Darnold has been able to spread the ball around much better in subsequent games.
He has gotten Cooper Kupp involved, and last week, he made big throws to both tight ends – AJ Barner and Elijah Arroyo. That all bodes very well.
Rookie Tory Horton could be a big-play threat in the making, but if Seattle’s passing attack is missing anything, it is the player who can score from anywhere on the field. As dangerous as he is, JSN doesn’t do that.
DK Metcalf does. He has always done it. And his big play against the Vikings was a classic reminder.
Metcalf ran a simple short post. Aaron Rodgers hit him in stride in the middle of the field between two defenders. Metcalf turned on the jets and beat both of the primary coverage players to the left sideline.
There were still three Vikings with a shot at him, but as all Seahawks fans know, DK Metcalf is hard to catch in a race, even if you have a good angle on him. He turned on that 4.33 speed and ran past virtually everyone.
But as he neared the goal line, he had one final player to beat. Vikings do-everything defensive back Josh Metellus had a bead on him. Metcalf’s teammate Calvin Austin tried to throw a block, but Metellus fought through it. It looked for all the world like Metellus would be able to push DK out of bounds around the two-yard line.
That’s when the other part of DK Metcalf’s rare athleticism came into play.
He didn’t try to outrun Metellus. He didn’t try to juke him. He lowered his shoulder and ran right into the defender. Metcalf – 6’4”, 239 pounds – won the battle with the 5’11”, 208-pound Metellus and powered into the end zone.
The Seahawks passing game should continue to improve and the team seems very happy with the direction they chose this offseason. But Sunday was a reminder of what they gave up. To make that play, Seattle would have to somehow morph JSN, Horton and Barner into one receiver. That would be DK Metcalf.