SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
The second season of the Mike Macdonald era will coincide with a new quarterback’s arrival in Sam Darnold, who is fresh off a career year with the Minnesota Vikings. But with two of the Seahawks’ top three receivers from last year — D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett — now catching passes for other teams, it may take some time for Seattle’s aerial attack to reach its stride under first-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. As a result, the Seahawks hope a rushing attack that finished with the fifth-fewest yards in the league last season can improve this year. Much of that is contingent on whether Kenneth Walker III can bounce back from an injury-shortened season, as well as whether a revamped offensive line with first-round pick Grey Zabel on the scene can do a better job of creating running lanes. As for the Seahawks’ defense, Seattle allowed the 14th-fewest yards per game in 2024, and that should only be aided by the arrivals of veteran defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Shaquill Griffin. Second-round pick Nick Emmanwori should buoy a secondary that yielded the eighth-fewest yards per attempt last season, thanks in large part to another banner year from two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon. The Seahawks should be a steady bunch, but their playoff hopes could very well be contingent on whether the San Francisco 49ers bounce back from a down season.
QB Sam Darnold, WR Cooper Kupp, QB Drew Lock, CB Shaquill Griffin, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, OL Josh Jones, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G Grey Zabel, DB Nick Emmanwori, TE Elijah Arroyo.
WR D.K. Metcalf, QB Geno Smith, WR Tyler Lockett, TE Noah Fant, LB Dre’Mont Jones, S Rayshawn Jenkins, DT Roy Robertson-Harris, OL George Fant.
Adding Lawrence to the mix should bolster one of the NFL’s most stingy defensive lines, one that combined for the eighth-most sacks (45) in the league last year. He joins a group that features Jarran Reed and 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II. Last year’s sack leader, Leonard Williams, is back, too, as are edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall. That trio combined for 25 sacks a season ago, a total that could increase now that Lawrence is on the scene. The Seahawks’ secondary remains stellar, too, with Witherspoon and Riq Woolen among the league’s best at cornerback.
Zabel, who is expected to start the season at left guard, enters the picture with plenty of pedigree as the No. 18 overall pick in this year's draft. But the rest of the interior offensive line is a bit of a concern for the Seahawks. Anthony Bradford has won the starting right guard job ahead of his third season, and second-year center Jalen Sundell appears to have beat out Olu Oluwatimi, who did not play in the preseason while dealing with a back issue. Bradford has started 21 games the last two years, but Sundell has none to his name. Considering the Seahawks’ offensive line yielded 54 sacks in 2024, it would go a long way if Bradford and Sundell could solidify that unit.
Fourth-year wide receiver Dareke Young has all of two career NFL catches to his name, but he has stood out among a group including both veteran and unproven reserve wideouts. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder has impressed with his ability to win 50-50 balls during practices, and may earn a spot on the Seahawks’ opening week roster because of it.
Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season and could be in for another successful campaign catching passes from Darnold. Smith-Njigba was the Seahawks’ most-targeted player in 2024, and that is likely to be the case again in 2025 after the subtractions of D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, as well as the addition of veteran wideout Cooper Kupp.
Win Super Bowl: 60-1.
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Seattle Seahawks' Sam Darnold warms up before a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
BOSTON (AP) — When Zdeno Chara signed with the Boston Bruins in 2006, the No. 3 he wore early in his career had already been retired by the Original Six franchise.
So he picked No. 33 without giving it much thought.
“Little did I know how meaningful 33 was,” Chara said on Thursday night before his number was raised to the TD Garden rafters not far from where Larry Bird's No. 33 already hangs in Celtics green.
It is the 13th number retired by the Bruins, and the latest in a collection of Hall of Fame defenseman that runs from Eddie Shore to Bobby Orr to Raymond Bourque.
“It's a huge honor,” Chara told reporters. "I can’t explain to you how honored I feel. I’m humbled about being selected to be one of the numbers being retired. Being with that history, forever."
The 2009 Norris Trophy winner and a 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Chara spent 14 of his 24 NHL seasons in Boston, leading the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship. His 1,680 games is the most of any NHL defenseman; at 6 feet, 9 inches (2.06m), he is the tallest player in league history, and his 108.8 mph (175.1 kmh) slap shot in the 2012 skills competition remains the NHL record.
But his teammates and other Bruins attending Thursday's ceremony said Chara's biggest contribution was signing with a team that hadn't won a playoff series in six years — “the best decision I ever made” — and turning them into champions.
“Things really changed when Zee came here as a free agent,” Bourque said. "From that point on, the culture and everything that comes with that, and the success and the run that they had, he was such a big part of that.
“He’s a legend,” Bourque said. “He really deserves to be up there.”
Bourque was among the former Bruins greats in attendance, along with Orr — both of them, like Chara, Boston defensemen who finished their careers elsewhere on their way to the Hall of Fame. They arrived via gold carpet that led them past adoring fans and the statue of Orr flying through the air following his Cup-winning goal in the 1970 finals.
Other fellow retired number honorees in attendance included Cam Neely, Willie O’Ree, Rick Middleton, Terry O'Reilly and John Bucyk. The current Bruins sat on the bench, all wearing Chara jerseys.
Five members of the 2011 roster — Patrice Bergeron, Mark Recchi, Dennis Seidenberg, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask — carried the retired number onto the ice, and teammate Andrew Ference served as emcee.
In his speech, Chara read the names of every player on the Bruins last Cup winners. Asked why, he said after: “Without championships, you are not going to be successful, you’re not going to be recognized.
"The championships, that’s what they do. They raise everyone, they extend careers for everyone,” he explained. "They create dynasties. They create stories. They create memories. They created what we’re experiencing tonight.
"It’s very simple: Once you win the championship, everything gets so much better for everyone. And the most beautiful thing about it: You create extended families with each other. It’s true. You have bonds, you have friendships that are now still forever. It’s amazing; it’s like you’re seeing your brother. You trust the person; you know everything about them. And anytime anybody needs something, you’re there for them.
“That’s what winning championships do,” he said. “Not just for a career, but for the rest of your lives, it means something very special.”
The ceremony at center ice featured a “Big Zee” ice sculpture flanking the podium and a large No. 33 behind it. Fans were asked to get in their seats two hours early, and the full TD Garden erupted in a giant shout of “Zee!” followed by an extended cheer of “Thank you, Chara!”
A highlight video featured former Bruins Brad Marchand and current coach Marco Sturm, Chara's teammate from 2006-10. Many of them spoke of the way Chara led by example.
“He wasn’t really a ‘Rah, rah!’ guy,” former Bruins forward and current team president Neely said, “but when he spoke, it was with a purpose.”
And so, when it was time to raise his No. 33 to the rafters, Chara stood by with his wife, Tatiana, while their children — Zack, Ben and Elliz — pulled the ropes.
“That’s the biggest reward for me: To see my children and my family doing it instead of me. I think I get better joy watching them doing it than the joy of me doing it because it's so much more meaningful,” he explained. "They deserve that more than me."
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Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara speaks during his number retirement ceremony before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara leads his family over to his number "33" to raise it to the rafters before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, center, waves to the crowd during his number retirement ceremony, as Bruins' players with their number already retired, from left, Willie O'Ree, Rick Middleton, Terrry O'Reilly, Cam Neely, emcee Andrew Ferrance and Bobby Orr look on before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara's number "33" is raised to the rafters at TD Garden before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Bobby Orr applauds, left bottom, as former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara waves to the crowd during his number retirement ceremony before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
