Seattle’s offensive line has struggled to regain the form it displayed during the team’s recent championship campaign. Under the guidance of offensive line coach John Benton in 2025, the unit transformed from a league-worst group into a cornerstone of the franchise’s second Super Bowl victory. That success saw quarterback Sam Darnold endure significantly fewer pressures than his predecessors, while the rushing attack, led by Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, found its rhythm.
The current 2026 season has presented a stark contrast to that momentum. The Seahawks sit with a 3-3 record after losing three of their last four matchups. Head coach Mike Macdonald acknowledged a growing sense of urgency regarding the team’s operational execution, particularly in pass protection and ground game consistency.
Data from TruMedia indicates that Seattle’s quarterbacks have faced more frequent pressure in just four games this season than in any single game last year. Darnold was pressured 18 times only once in 2025, during a 38-37 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on December 18. This season, he has faced at least that number of pressures in consecutive weeks, with higher intensity than during that Rams game.
The issue peaked during a 17-14 overtime defeat to the Denver Broncos on Thursday. Darnold was pressured 27 times and sacked five times, marking the second consecutive week he has been stripped of the ball on that many occasions. He was also hit 17 times, a sharp contrast to the four hits taken by Denver’s quarterback, Bo Nix.
"I think I can do a better job of getting the ball out," Darnold noted following the loss.
Through six games, Darnold and backup Drew Lock have been combined for 16 sacks. Communication breakdowns along the line have also surfaced. During the Broncos game, right tackle Abe Lucas and running back George Holani appeared to be out of sync in pass protection against Denver’s aggressive defensive front.
Left guard Grey Zabel offered a candid assessment after a 32-29 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on October 11. He stated that the offensive line, including himself, needs to elevate its performance to provide better support for the quarterback.
"Us as an O-line, myself in general, can play a lot better to maybe take the heat off the quarterback, to be better up front for the quarterback," Zabel said. "But, at the end of the day, I mean, just got to play better."
Seahawks guard Zabel, selected in the first round of the 2025 draft, has regressed in his sophomore campaign. His 59.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus through six games in 2026 places him 42nd out of 75 qualifying guards, a drop from his 61.1 mark as a rookie, which ranked highest among all Seattle offensive linemen through that same span.
The unit’s instability has played a role in the shift. While last season was marked by consistency, aside from left tackle Charles Cross sitting out three late contests due to a hamstring strain, this year has brought frequent shifts. Except for the season opener, right guard Anthony Bradford has missed every game, battling hip and knee issues. In his absence, third-year veteran Christian Haynes and rookie Beau Stephens have shared reps, forming a rotation over the last five weeks. Bradford is expected to be available for Sunday’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to head coach John Macdonald.
Still, the challenges extend beyond the line. First-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury’s unit has struggled broadly, and Macdonald emphasized that problems lie across multiple areas, not just one group. “It’s on the offensive line, it’s on our offense. It’s both,” he said. “It’s how efficiently we can run the ball. It’s how efficiently we can move the ball in other ways. And the quarterback is getting hit far too often, everyone sees that.”
Sam Darnold, the starting quarterback, has added to the concerns. His seven interceptions through Sunday were tied for the league lead alongside Justin Herbert and Drake Maye. Though Macdonald has stressed that Darnold is not carrying the full burden for the team’s downturn, the volume of turnovers remains notable. In addition to Darnold’s picks, Seattle has lost five fumbles, totaling 12, a figure that ties for third-most in the NFL.
The absence of running back Zach Charbonnet and rookie Jadarian Price, both sidelined with injuries, has further disrupted the ground game. Interim contributors like Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, and Velus Jones Jr., mostly career backups, have filled in without consistent success. That inconsistency has amplified reliance on NFL receptions leader Jaxon Smith-Njigba, pushing the offense toward a more singular approach and raising the pressure on Darnold.
Thursday’s loss to Denver illustrated how these issues compound. “Could the offensive line step their game up? Yes. Absolutely,” Macdonald noted. “But just to lay everything on the offensive line. I think the same applies to the takeaways with Sam: Does Sam bear responsibility for protecting the football? Do our runners carry responsibility for taking care of the football? Absolutely.”