Summary
Heavy Sports piece reporting on Seattle’s six initial Pro Bowl selections in the 2025 season — tied for most in the NFL. Provides context on each selection and the argument that additional Seahawks were snubbed.
Key Points
- Six selections: QB Sam Darnold, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DT Leonard Williams, DE DeMarcus Lawrence, CB Devon Witherspoon, WR Rashid Shaheed
- All six are multi-time Pro Bowlers: 2nd selection for Darnold, JSN, and Shaheed; 3rd for Williams and Witherspoon; 5th for Lawrence
- Selections spread across both sides of the ball — offense (Darnold, JSN, Shaheed) and defense (Williams, Lawrence, Witherspoon) — cited as evidence of roster balance
- Shaheed selected as kick returner (not WR) — already had two return TDs in seven games with the Seahawks
- JSN leading the NFL in receiving yards and favored to win Offensive Player of the Year; defense ranked first in defensive DVOA
- Snubbed per Cooper Kupp: LB Ernest Jones IV (5 INTs, 116 tackles; tied 2nd in NFL in INTs) and K Jason Myers (37 made FGs, 100% on XPs)
- DT Byron Murphy II (7 sacks, tied with Williams for team lead) also cited as a snub by fans
Newsletter Angles
- Balance of excellence: a team tied for the most Pro Bowlers and with selections on both sides of the ball is unusual — reinforces the argument that this isn’t just a defensive team or a one-player narrative
- The Shaheed story: acquired at the trade deadline for 4th/5th round picks, already selected to the Pro Bowl as a returner — exemplary illustration of mid-season roster construction value
Entities Mentioned
- Sam Darnold — QB; 2nd Pro Bowl selection
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba — WR; 2nd Pro Bowl; leading NFL in receiving yards
- Seattle Seahawks — team; tied for league lead with 6 Pro Bowl selections
- Mike Macdonald — implied; his defense produced 3 of 6 selections
Concepts Mentioned
- Salary Cap Optimization — Shaheed acquired for 4th/5th round picks and immediately becoming Pro Bowl-caliber is cap efficiency in action
Notes
Routine Pro Bowl reporting elevated by the context: six selections across both sides of the ball on a team that also had the NFL’s best defense reflects genuine roster depth.