It’s hard to get excited about fullback play in today’s NFL simply because there aren’t many left. The Seattle Seahawks are one of the teams that employed one of the last of a dying breed of elite fullbacks in the late 2000s with Mack Strong.
Strong played his entire 14-year career in Seattle, where he blocked for three different 1,000-yard rushers: Chris Warren, Ricky Watters, and Shaun Alexander. Strong helped pave the way for Alexander in his MVP season in 2005 and earned two trips to the Pro Bowl
Easily one of the best pure blocking fullbacks in franchise history, there hasn’t been another like him since his career was ended due to a neck injury in 2007. But after one quarter of play in the 2025 preseason, Seahawks fans might be seeing some flashbacks when the offense comes out in an I-formation with their newest fullback, Robbie Ouzts.
Robbie Ouzts brings old-school physicality back to the Seahawks’ offense
Outzts was drafted back in April with the 175th pick in the draft, otherwise known as the second-to-last pick of the fifth round. He quickly made his presence felt by exploding into Raiders’ All-World edge rusher Maxx Crosby to help spring George Holani for a 19-yard run. But he wasn’t finished there.
Fullback sighting.
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 8, 2025
📺: @King5Seattle or @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/Kqd1qywblV
The Alabama prospect never did much with the ball in his hands for the Crimson Tide, but he quickly did some damage for Seattle’s offense. He caught a 17-yard pass to pick up the first completed pass of the preseason for Seattle on the Seahawks’ first drive. He even finished the run at the sideline with that old-school fullback grit, plowing through a few Raiders defenders on the way to the ground.
On Seattle’s second drive, Ouzts grabbed the edge with another stonewall block off left tackle, this time springing Holani for a 24-yard touchdown to give Seattle an early lead.
Holani takes it HOME!
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 8, 2025
📺: @King5Seattle or @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/qQImteTokr
Holani had seven carries for 61 yards in the first half, much of which came with Ouzts leading the way. Ouzts' day was finished after one quarter, likely solidifying his spot on the roster as the team's starting fullback. It's not often a fullback steals the show with just one touch, but those three plays alone showed the Seahawks and their fans all they needed to see out of him in Week 1 of the preseason.
There aren’t many great fullbacks in the NFL these days, and those that have hung around, like Kyle Juszczyk in San Francisco, are lauded more for their pass-catching ability than the hulking linebacker-crushers of yesteryear.
Ouzts certainly has hands, but he’s a debilitating blocker, and early signs point to him being an x-factor in the Seahawks’ rushing attack. Considering the question marks on the offensive line and Kenneth Walker needing a bounce-back season, Ouzts arrives just in time to lend a heavy hand in opening rushing lanes.