This is the best D-line in Seattle Seahawks history

The Seattle Seahawks’ defense has talent and depth all over the field. But that’s especially the case up front.

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Leonard Williams has had another monster season, piling 7.0 sacks and seven tackles for loss. Byron Murphy II has exploded for a second-year breakout, also recording 7.0 sacks and seven tackles for loss.

DeMarcus Lawrence is still as productive as ever at age 33, tallying 5.0 sacks, nine tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two fumble return touchdowns. Uchenna Nwosu, coming off a pair of injury-ravaged seasons, has bounced back with 6.0 sacks and six tackles for loss.

And that’s not all.

Derick Hall and Boye Mafe don’t have gaudy traditional numbers, but they’ve also played at a high level. According to Pro Football Focus, both of them rank among the NFL’s top 40 edge defenders in total pressures. And then there’s veteran stalwart Jarran Reed, who is on nearing a return from injury after missing the past four games.

After another dominant pass-rushing and run-stopping performance in the trenches on Sunday – which helped propel the Seahawks to their first shutout in 10 years – former NFL quarterback Brock Huard shed some lofty praise on Seattle’s defensive line.

“This is the best defensive front in Seahawks history,” Huard said during his postgame instant reaction video. “And I know (Michael) Bennett and (Cliff) Avril and those guys won a Super Bowl and went to another one, but I don’t think they had this kind of depth, this kind of versatility – rotating six, seven, eight, nine guys through on that defensive line.”

‘I think it’s a fair conversation’

The Seahawks currently rank fourth in the NFL in both sacks (40) and rushing yards allowed per carry (3.8).

That puts them on pace for 56 sacks, which would be the second-most in franchise history. The only team with more was the 1985 Seahawks, which finished fifth in the league with 61 sacks — led by the quartet of Jacob Green, Randy Edwards, Joe Nash, Jeff Bryant. That team allowed 3.9 yards per carry, which was tied for eighth in the league.

As for the 2013 Super Bowl champion Seahawks, who had undeniably the best defense in franchise history? They had 44 sacks, led by the pass-rushing duo of Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril. They also allowed 3.9 yards per carry, which was tied for seventh in the league.

In other words, neither the 1985 Seahawks nor the 2013 Seahawks finished top-five in the league in both sacks and yards allowed per carry – which the 2025 Seahawks are on pace to do.

During Monday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, former Seahawks linebacker Dave Wyman agreed that it’s time to start talking about this year’s defensive front as one of the best in franchise history.

“They have three (interior) guys that can just dominate double teams,” Wyman said of Williams, Murphy and Reed. “All three of those guys have very unique skill sets. And then you’ve got the guys coming off the edge. … Yeah, I think it’s a fair conversation to have. I don’t think it’s premature.”

This is the best D-line in Seattle Seahawks history

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