Seahawks Embrace New Season Without 'Defending' Super Bowl Title

Seattle's coach and GM discuss roster changes, state tax impacts, and confidence in the running back group

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:34pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a Seahawks football game, with players and field elements broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, reflecting the team's evolving roster and strategic considerations.The Seahawks' quest to defend their Super Bowl title is a complex, multifaceted challenge, as reflected in this cubist interpretation of the team's offseason maneuverings.Phoenix Today

The Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions, but head coach Mike Macdonald wants his team to approach the 2026 season with a fresh mindset, not focused on 'defending' their title. General manager John Schneider also acknowledges that the team will look different each year due to free agency, but they are working to retain as many key players as possible.

Why it matters

The Seahawks' approach to the new season highlights the challenges of maintaining a championship roster in the NFL, where free agency and salary cap constraints force teams to constantly adapt. Their comments also shed light on how state tax policies can impact a team's ability to sign and retain talent.

The details

The Seahawks lost several key defensive starters in free agency, including safety Coby Bryant, cornerback Riq Woolen, and linebacker Boye Mafe. On offense, they retained most of their starters, but lost running back Ken Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs. Macdonald and Schneider expressed confidence in the players they have returning, including the running back group led by Zach Charbonnet and George Holani. They also noted the impact of Washington state's new 'Millionaires Tax', which Schneider said has 'helped us a lot' in the past when acquiring free agents due to the lack of state income tax.

  • The Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2025.
  • The new 'Millionaires Tax' in Washington state is set to take effect in 2028.

The players

Mike Macdonald

The head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, who is focused on approaching the 2026 season with a fresh mindset rather than 'defending' their Super Bowl title.

John Schneider

The general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, who acknowledges the challenges of retaining key free agents due to the team's salary cap constraints and the impact of Washington state's new 'Millionaires Tax'.

Coby Bryant

A former Seahawks safety who signed a three-year, $40 million free-agent deal with the Chicago Bears.

Riq Woolen

A former Seahawks cornerback who signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Boye Mafe

A former Seahawks linebacker who signed a three-year, $60 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

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What they’re saying

“We're not really saying we're running anything back. We're not defending anything. That's just not really our attitude. Our goal is to retain as many great players as we can. We love our roster, we love our guys and (we're) trying to keep that unit together and have that continuity.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks

“Every year it's so different. We're trying to bring as many guys back as we possibly can, but you know it's going to be a different team, no matter what, every year.”

— John Schneider, General Manager, Seattle Seahawks

“Getting a great player. We love Riq. He's a great player. Just can't afford him.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' approach to the new season highlights the challenges of maintaining a championship roster in the NFL, where free agency and salary cap constraints force teams to constantly adapt. Their comments also shed light on how state tax policies can impact a team's ability to sign and retain talent.