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As fans of the Seattle Seahawks across the country settle in to enjoy Super Bowl LX, it is worth revisiting the decision that quietly set the stage for their ascension to the biggest game in football.
Long before this roster reached championship form, the Seahawks made one of the boldest front-office moves in modern NFL history by trading away Russell Wilson.
At the time, the move was controversial. Wilson was a franchise icon, a nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback who had already delivered a Super Bowl title to Seattle.
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In 2021, at 34 years old, he was still viewed as a high-end starter in the NFL. Yet the Seahawks elected to move on, sending Wilson to the Denver Broncos in a deal that would ultimately redefine the franchise's trajectory.
The trade package was massive, with Wilson and a 2022 fourth-round pick heading to Denver in exchange for first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, second-round picks in 2022 and 2023, a 2022 fifth-round pick, tight end Noah Fant, defensive end Shelby Harris, and quarterback Drew Lock.
The ripple effects of a franchise-altering decision
With the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Seattle selected tackle Charles Cross, who quickly became a foundational piece on the offensive line.
One year later, using assets acquired from the same trade, Seattle drafted cornerback Devon Witherspoon. His immediate impact transformed the defense and made him the focal point of a unit that now defines the team's identity.
The Wilson trade did not stop with two cornerstone players. Additional draft capital turned into defensive end Boye Mafe, outside linebacker Derick Hall, defensive end Tyreke Smith, and wide receiver Dareke Young.
Collectively, those selections provided depth and long-term flexibility. Nearly five years later, the payoff is clear. That collection of talent helped fuel an NFC Championship victory and a return to the sport's biggest stage in Super Bowl LX.
Meanwhile, Wilson's tenure with the Broncos told a very different story. Over two seasons, he went 11-19 as a starter. In 2022, Wilson finished 4-11 with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Although he rebounded statistically in 2023 with 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions, his 7-8 record still reflected a team struggling to meet expectations.
Moving on to Sam Darnold
Back in Seattle, the quarterback transition unfolded in stages. Geno Smith took over in 2022 and delivered a respectable 17-15 record across two seasons as the Seahawks' starter. However, 15 interceptions in 2024 effectively closed that chapter.
That opened the door for Sam Darnold, now in a position to lead the Seahawks toward their first Super Bowl title since 2014 and only the second in franchise history.
While Darnold is the present face of the offense, the roots of this run trace directly back to the decision to move on from Wilson and how it strengthened their ultra-steely defense.
It is difficult to imagine this version of the Seahawks without that trade. Core players like Cross and Witherspoon define both sides of the ball, and the depth built through that haul has given Seattle balance and resilience the roster needed.
Without letting go of Wilson, the Seahawks might not have been in San Francisco at all.