Seahawks Prep for 2026 Opener After 29-13 Super Bowl LX Victory

The Seattle Seahawks will unfurl a championship banner Wednesday at Lumen Field following their 29-13 win over the New England Patriots.

The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 NFL season following a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Tight end AJ Barner, who recorded the team’s solitary offensive touchdown during that championship game, confirmed the squad is now focused on a Week 1 rematch against the same Patriots franchise. This season opener, scheduled for Wednesday night at Lumen Field, will feature the official unfurling of the Super Bowl banner in the rafters before kickoff.

Head coach Mike Macdonald has introduced the phrase "Run it forward" to define the team's mindset for the 2026 campaign. This terminology replaces traditional concepts like "defending" a title or "running it back," as the organization attempts to become just the third team this century to achieve consecutive Super Bowl championships. Macdonald noted on Wednesday that he has not observed complacency among the roster, stating that the group's intent during field work has remained high throughout the offseason.

Roster Perspectives and Offseason Transitions

Defensive tackle Leonard Williams described the championship parade through downtown Seattle as a career highlight but noted his focus shifted quickly when his wife gave birth to their first child one month after the title win. Williams observed that no players in the building are currently "patting themselves on the back," emphasizing that the roster understands the necessity of starting from the bottom of the mountain again. He credited the team's ability to handle potential distractions and maintain a day-by-day approach to player growth regardless of veteran status.

Barner echoed this sentiment on Saturday, characterizing the Super Bowl win as a "sick moment" that is now firmly in the past. The tight end expressed a desire to "play some new football" rather than dwelling on previous accolades. The team spent the spring and summer searching for methods to improve their existing schemes, with Macdonald acknowledging there are specific preparation elements under his purview that he intends to adjust moving forward.

The Journey to Repeat as Champions

Macdonald characterized the upcoming Wednesday night game as the first step in a new journey, despite the significant context of dropping a championship banner at home. The coach indicated that while the team respects the hard work required to reach such a moment, the focus remains on Week 1 execution. He mentioned that if any lack of focus had been detected during the summer, it would have been addressed immediately, though he admitted there were days where the team could have grown more.

As the Seahawks transition from their championship parade celebrations to active competition, the internal culture has prioritized evolution over maintenance. The staff continues to look for ways to make their operations better as they prepare for the Patriots' arrival in Renton. The organization is leaning into the reality of being a new team for a new year, avoiding the pitfalls of past success to ensure they are ready for the physical demands of the 2026 schedule.