The Seattle Seahawks' drubbing of the Washington Commanders in primetime was an eye-opener for football fans across the country. Seattle practically shut the game down in the first half on the back of Sam Darnold’s practically perfect first half, while the defense forced two first-half turnovers.
The first turnover of the night might not have had the same profound effect on the greater football world, but it did give Seahawks fans something to be excited about. Ty Okada’s leaping, sideline dancing interception was just another example of the young defensive back proving himself to be one of the franchise’s most obscure diamonds in the rough.
Okada has stepped up in a massive way with defensive leader Julian Love sidelined with an injury, starting the last five games and building on his performances each week.
Ty Okada emerging as the Seattle Seahawks’ latest hidden gem
After the game, head coach Mike Macdonald talked up Okada’s presence in the defense in recent weeks, which has caught the attention of Seahawks fans in a welcome surprise.
“Just keeps building, just keeps stacking great plays,” Macdonald said after the game. “I know he’s been starting for us here for a minute, and we’re going to need him to keep playing great football for us while Julian is out. I think about Ty, I think about his attitude every day in the building, his attention to detail in the game plan, I think about how great a teammate he is, how much he loves the guys next to him, and it’s 100% effort from him all the time.”
Okada is a third-year undrafted player from Montana State. It was always going to be a long road to being a contributor in the NFL. Still, Okada is getting his first extended taste of NFL action. Coming into 2025, he had just 33 defensive snaps and 62 snaps on special teams.
This season, Okada has already played 367 defensive snaps and 74 snaps on special teams. The NFL doesn’t offer many opportunities like this, and while it stings that it comes at the expense of a trusted leader in the backend of the defense, it’s comforting that a player in Okada’s daunting position is capitalizing to the fullest extent.
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In his five starts this season, Okada has picked up 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and four pass deflections, while allowing 70% of passes in his coverage area to be completed.
He hasn’t been perfect in coverage, allowing two scores, but he makes up for it with his high-motor play and being ready to make the splash play when he gets the chance. His first career interception was a perfect example of that.
Like he KNEW it was coming. 🙂↔️ @tyokada INT!
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/IyKpvG65vY
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) November 3, 2025
“It’s incredible. Almost feels like it happened in slow motion,” Macdonald said. “Wish we could say we taught him that, but that’s just a phenomenal play all the way around.”
Okada’s interception was one of the first early cracks in the trashing Seattle delivered in Washington. With Love sidelined on injured reserve for at least the next three games, Okada is going to keep filling in for him. And if Seattle keeps getting this level of performance, then at least the secondary is in good hands.