It didn’t take Saubert long to realize he fit in well with the Seahawks, and talks started about a possible contract extension earlier this season, but a calf injury landed him on injured reserve, causing him to miss six games. That made him wonder if that extension might fall apart, but instead he signed a one-year extension upon returning from injured reserve. And right on cue, he came through with the biggest play of his career not long after securing his future for 2026.

“He’s a great guy,” Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold said. “He’s someone who’s been around the block a little bit, been on a few teams, and just understands what this whole thing is about. So it’s a great guy to have in that locker room for guys to look up to. Not necessarily a vocal leader. Sauby can be a vocal leader for us, but more so just kind of seeing how he moves throughout his day and how he does things. It’s always a vet presence that’s good to have.”

And the way Darnold sees it, it was fitting that Saubert ended up coming through in the biggest moment of the game despite being the quarterback’s fourth read on the play.

“That’s our team,” Darnold said. “There’s a ton of guys that can step up no matter what the situation calls for, no matter what the situation is. Whether it’s a two-point play to win the game or it’s a play like in the Colts game where he just, same kind of route, ends up coming open and he’s going to get nine yards for us.”

In the aftermath of his big moment in one of the best games of the NFL season, Saubert’s phone predictably was blowing up with messages of congratulations.

“Too many to count,” he said. “But appreciate the love, obviously. It’s cool.”

As for coming through in such a big moment, Saubert said, “It was awesome. Putting the nail in the coffin in that game, being a part of a culmination of a lot of other plays that guys made. To be in a big moment, have my name called, and answer is cool.”

By Tuesday, Saubert was happy to reflect on that play and the win, which clinched a playoff berth for Seattle and moved them into first place, but he added that the Seahawks have to move on from that and prepare for the task at hand, their Week 17 game in Carolina.

“It’s pretty cool, that means clinch the playoffs, make us the one seed,” he said. “I think we’re all we’re all moving past it this week, trying to get ready for Carolina.”

And as the Seahawks try to stay on top of the NFC, Saubert is grateful for the home he has found with the Seahawks.

“The closeness of our locker room and the hunger you find in everybody,” he said. “Everybody’s trying to get better, and everybody everybody’s collectively working towards one goal. And when you add the brotherhood in there that we have in this in this locker room, it’s something special. Not everywhere is like that, I’d say.”