Seattle Seahawks core special teamer Brady Russell during an NFL game.
The Seattle Seahawks are bringing back fullback and core special teamer Brady Russell on a reported two-year contract,according to NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. The timing matters because the move keeps another trusted in-house piece off the market as Seattle continues shaping its roster at the start of the 2026 league year and free agency signing period.
That is why this qualifies as the kind of “great news” Seahawks fans like to see in March. Russell is not a headline-grabbing splash signing, but he is exactly the type of roster piece contenders work to keep: a versatile depth player with a clear special teams role and familiarity inside the building. Seattle’s official roster lists Russell as a fullback, and Pro Football Reference’s 2025 snap data shows just how heavily he was used in the game’s third phase.
Seahawks News: Seattle Re-Signs Brady Russell, According to Tom Pelissero
Pelissero reported that Russell had interest elsewhere but wanted to stay in Seattle, which adds another useful detail to the signing. This was not simply a case of Seattle filling the bottom of the roster; it was a player with options choosing continuity.
Russell has carved out his value primarily on special teams, even while carrying fullback and tight end utility. Seattle’s official roster page lists him at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, and his 2025 usage underscores why the Seahawks would want him back on a multi-year deal. Pro Football Reference credited Russell with 396 special teams snaps in 2025, compared to 58 offensive snaps.
That matters for roster-building. Teams can find camp bodies every spring; they do not always find proven, trusted special teams players who already know their assignments and have earned a role.
Why Brady Russell Matters to the Seahawks’ Depth Chart
Russell’s return gives Seattle continuity at fullback while also preserving a core special teams contributor. The Seahawks’ official depth chart lists him in the backfield mix, and the bigger takeaway is that his role does not need volume touches to matter.
This is one of those under-the-radar moves that helps preserve roster functionality. Seattle does not need Russell to become a featured offensive player for the deal to pay off. It needs him to keep handling coverage units, provide backfield flexibility, and allow the coaching staff to avoid rebuilding another niche role from scratch.
That is especially relevant during free agency, when teams lose depth faster than they expect.
Seahawks Free Agency Recap
Russell’s deal fits a broader Seattle pattern this week: keep useful internal pieces in place where possible. The Seahawks also re-signed linebacker Drake Thomas, brought back offensive lineman Josh Jones, retained long snapper Chris Stoll on a two-year deal, and tendered wide receiver Jake Bobo before the new league year.
Free agency is not only about outside additions. It is also about avoiding self-inflicted holes, and Seattle has spent the opening window doing work on that front. The 2026 league year began March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, making this the exact stretch when those retention decisions carry the most value.
Brian Nemhauser’s “great news” framing lands because this is the kind of move that makes sense both on the roster sheet and in the locker room.
What Happens Next?
Seattle will keep working through the rest of free agency, but Russell’s return gives the Seahawks one less special teams and depth concern to solve. The next question is whether the club continues prioritizing familiar, lower-cost internal pieces or shifts harder toward outside additions.