The Seattle Seahawks took the most dangerous approach to transitioning from one head coach-quarterback tandem to another. It’s a pathway that often leads to a few seasons spent in NFL purgatory, where the team is just good enough to squeak into the postseason, but not quite good enough to advance, leaving the front office out of prime position in the NFL Draft.
Still, the Seahawks have made it to 2025 with a solid cast at the top. Head coach Mike Macdonald helped lead the team to a 10-7 record in his first season and, alongside general manager John Schneider, helped usher in a new quarterback era that begins with Sam Darnold and likely ends with Jalen Milroe for the long haul.
Of course, the personnel and decision-making, and abilities they hold are the data that gets run through the machines this time of year as we wait for real football to finally arrive. With the head coach, general manager, and quarterback plan in place, how do the Seahawks stack up in a league-wide power rankings of these key spots?
The Seattle Seahawks' power triumvirate is unimpressive in ESPN's future power rankings
ESPN placed the Seahawks at No. 21 on a future power ranking board that is primarily focused on the three most important figures in the franchise. It’s a ranking that lands just one spot ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers, DK Metcalf’s new team.
Of course, unlike the Steelers, the Seahawks have a solid plan at quarterback and, even if their head coach and front office may not demand the same level of respect, their quick start is notable.
While ESPN spouted concerns over the offensive coordinator swap from Ryan Grubb to Klint Kubiak, it’s the big, bold prediction that really contextualizes their feelings on the Seahawks' future plans.
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“Led by second-year star quarterback LaNorris Sellers, along with a top-five defense, the Seahawks will reach the Super Bowl ... but will lose,” wrote ESPN’s Seth Walder. “The days of Smith and Darnold will be ancient history by 2027.”
For there to be a belief that the Seahawks could draft Sellers, two things are implied: 1) the Seahawks will stink in 2025, and 2) both Sam Darnold and Milroe are the entire reason why. Beyond the concerns from the interior of the offensive line, which are steadily improving, that scenario doesn’t seem particularly likely.
Putting power rankings and bold predictions aside, the Seahawks have set themselves up for continued success and a hope for the future that could potentially lift them out of the vicious NFL cycle that has kept the team hovering too closely around .500 for four straight seasons.
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