The rest of the NFL is coming for the Seattle Seahawks. After hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy, the defending champs know they have a massive target painted on their backs—and according to linebacker Ernest Jones IV, that only fuels the fire. Sources close to the team say the Seahawks’ defense isn’t just resting on last season’s accolades; they’re reportedly evolving into something even more dangerous.
Last year, Seattle allowed a league-low 17.2 points per game, stifling opponents with relentless aggression and athleticism. But according to insiders, the unit has taken it up a notch. Jones, speaking to the Tacoma News Tribune’s Gregg Bell, revealed a subtle yet seismic shift: the defense has become more intuitive. “I think just the overall day-to-day, seeing improvements out of guys, whether by position or scheme-wise, you could tell this team is getting better,” Jones said. One team source alleged that the chemistry in the locker room is at an all-time high, which could spell trouble for the rest of the league.
But here’s where it gets spicy. Off the Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, the 26-year-old enforcer is reportedly warning his teammates not to get drunk on success. “It does not really matter. I’m not saying we’re not going to try to win, but last year’s not gonna help us. We gotta go out and do it again,” Jones added. That kind of chip-on-the-shoulder mentality, insiders claim, is exactly why this defense could be even scarier in 2026.
Jones himself is coming off a monster season—career-highs in passes defended (7) and interceptions (5), plus 126 tackles, his first touchdown, and a nod to the All-Pro Second Team. Some observers are buzzing about whether he can replicate that production with the bullseye now squarely on Seattle’s back. But according to one anonymous source within the organization, Jones is “hungrier than ever.”
The Seahawks will open their title defense in a rematch against the Patriots, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. If this defense is truly as intuitive and relentless as Jones suggests, the rest of the NFL might be in for a long, painful season.
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