The offense has been a pleasant surprise for the Seattle Seahawks in 2025, and a few players have received deserved attention for their roles in that.
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The obvious leader in that regard is third-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who not only is atop the NFL leaderboard in receiving yards and on pace to break DK Metcalf’s team record, but is primed to make a run at the league record held by Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson.
There’s also quarterback Sam Darnold, who was playing at the level of an MVP contender before throwing four interceptions last Sunday.
Even rookie left guard Grey Zabel, Seattle’s first-round NFL Draft pick, is getting mentioned a lot for his strong play out of the gate.
There’s one player who’s going under the radar that three-time Super Bowl champion and FOX broadcaster Daryl Johnston thinks deserves more recognition than he’s getting: second-year tight end AJ Barner.
“The tight end is such a huge position in the NFL today, and we’re really celebrating a bunch of these guys that are really kind of revolutionizing the position,” Johnston said to Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Thursday. “You have a Travis Kelce that’s kind of leading the way, and a George Kittle, and a Trey McBride in Arizona. Why hasn’t AJ Barner started to get a little bit more notice around the NFL?”
It’s a good point.
Barner is second on the Seahawks with 31 receptions and third with 306 receiving yards and four touchdown catches, and he’s the player who gets the snap on Seattle’s “Barn Yard,” the team’s version of the tush push. The production jumps out considering the 6-foot-6, 251-pound Barner entered the NFL known much more for his blocking ability than his ability to gain yards in college at Michigan and Indiana.
Sam Darnold goes to AJ Barner for the @Seahawks TD!
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— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2025
Johnston, who will be on the call for the Seahawks’ 10 a.m. game Sunday at Tennessee, has liked what he’s seen from Barner in prepping for the broadcast.
“It was really my first time getting to see him, and really reflecting back, (I have not really heard) a lot of people talk about him. And I was really impressed.”
Barner plays in a way that can be appreciated by Johnston, who was a two-time Pro Bowl fullback during his 11-year career with the Dallas Cowboys.
“He’s kind of one of those old-school guys that’s good in the passing game, but he’s got a little bit of that nasty to him and that grit to him for the run game as well,” Johnston said.
Hear the full Brock and Salk conversation with NFL on FOX analyst Daryl Johnston in the podcast at this link or in the player below. Catch Brock and Salk live from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.
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