Seahawks Confident in Running Back Depth Despite Key Departures

Head coach Mike Macdonald says team is 'excited' about current backfield options.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 2:11pm

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting a Seahawks running play, with sharp, overlapping shapes in navy blue, lime green, and silver representing the movement and energy of the game.The Seahawks' running game remains a key part of their offensive identity, with the team confident in its depth despite the departure of a star player.Seattle Today

The Seattle Seahawks lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to free agency, but head coach Mike Macdonald expressed confidence in the team's current running back depth. Macdonald highlighted the potential of players like Zach Charbonnet, George Holani, and Kenny McIntosh, noting their strong performances last season despite injury issues.

Why it matters

The Seahawks' running game is a crucial part of their offensive identity, so maintaining a strong backfield is key to their title defense. While the loss of Walker is significant, the team believes it has the talent in-house to continue its success on the ground.

The details

Macdonald praised the play of Holani at the end of last season, including in the Super Bowl and NFC Championship game. He also noted that Charbonnet had 14 touchdowns in 2022. The team is optimistic about the recovery of Charbonnet and McIntosh from their respective ACL injuries. General Manager John Schneider also expressed confidence in the current backfield options.

  • The Seahawks lost Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker to free agency earlier this offseason.
  • The team is currently preparing for the 2023 NFL season and their title defense.

The players

Mike Macdonald

Head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

Zach Charbonnet

Running back for the Seattle Seahawks who had 14 touchdowns in 2022.

George Holani

Running back for the Seattle Seahawks who played well at the end of the 2022 season, including in the Super Bowl and NFC Championship game.

Kenny McIntosh

Running back for the Seattle Seahawks who missed the entire 2022 season due to an ACL injury.

John Schneider

General Manager of the Seattle Seahawks.

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What they’re saying

“I think what you saw from George Holani in the offseason, or really at the end of the season, Super Bowl, NFC championship, the guy played great football, as he did before, he got hurt, you know, at the beginning of the season.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach

“Zach Charbonnet scored, like, 14 touchdowns last year, so it was pretty good.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach

What’s next

The Seahawks will continue to monitor the recovery progress of Charbonnet and McIntosh as they prepare for the 2023 season. The team may also look to add depth at the running back position through the draft or free agency.

The takeaway

Despite the loss of Kenneth Walker, the Seahawks believe they have the talent and depth at running back to maintain their strong ground game and defend their Super Bowl title. The team's confidence in players like Holani, Charbonnet, and McIntosh suggests they are well-positioned to overcome the departure of their star running back.