Seattle Seahawks‘ Nick Emmanwori has his eyes on the Super Bowl trophy. However, before the big game, the rookie safety won an individual award for his production during the 2025 regular season.
Emmanwori had 56 solo tackles, 25 assists, 2.5 sacks, and one interception in 14 games during his rookie season, per StatMuse. As a result, FOX Sports NFL color commentator Tom Brady is giving Emmanwori the “LFG Defensive Rookie of the Year.”
“Listen, there’s some great competition out there,” Brady said in a FOX Sports video posted on Feb. 1. “But the guy that I covered the last two weeks on Seattle’s defense, who does it all, he’s a Joker out there. They play him as basically a nickel defender, and they leave him out there all game.
“Nick Emmanwori, what an animal this guy is. He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical. He made some game‑changing plays last Sunday in the Championship game, covering people, knocking balls away, past defense, tackles in the run game, [and] aggressive in his run fits. This guy has a very bright future.”
Seahawks’ JSN Gets Strong Message for 2025 Season
Moreover, Emmanwori isn’t the only Seahawks player receiving praise leading up to the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 against the New England Patriots. Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby didn’t hold back his thoughts on the season that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having that has helped Seattle reach the Super Bowl.
“I feel that JSN is unreal,” Crosby said in a Jan. 28 video from The Rush Podcast. “He’s had a crazy year, bro. He’s been going nuclear, and clearly they knew in that front office how good he was by letting DK go and Tyler Locket go, and just seeing him explode into being that number one receiver that clearly they saw him being. You got to give them a lot of credit, too.”
Smith-Njigba posted 119 catches for 1,793 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 17 games this season, per StatMuse. Meanwhile, in the players, the Seahawks’ young star is also producing, recording 13 catches for 172 yards and has scored two touchdowns in two games in the 2025 playoffs, per StatMuse.
Sam Darnold Receives Praise From Joe Montana
Nonetheless,Emmanwori and Smith-Njigba isn’t the only player getting his flowers for an amazing season that has led to a Super Bowl appearance. Seahawks QB Sam Darnold is drawing praise not only for a strong showing in the NFC title game against the Los Angeles Rams, but also for the way the quarterback has reshaped the narrative around the career.
After leaving the New York Jets, Darnold carried the label of a bust for several seasons. That perception began to shift following a stop with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023, then fully changed after an impressive 2024 run with the Minnesota Vikings.
During a Jan. 27 appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” 49ers legend Joe Montana shared his thoughts on Darnold’s turnaround.
“I’m all for Sam Darnold,” Montana said. “The things that he’s been through, the places that he’s played, the games that he’s won, even here in San Francisco before he got to Minnesota. I mean, come on.
“I saw the stat the other day on Sunday. He’s won 28 games in the last two teams he was with, and he’s now getting another chance here, and he’s doing the same thing. And I’m pulling for him. I’m an NFC guy most of the time anyway, but I’m all about Sam. He’s a good guy, good player, and I’m happy for him.”
Seahawks’ Nick Emmanwori Gets Big News Before Super Bowl