Emanuel Wilson spent the past three seasons as a backup with the Packers. Michael Reaves / Getty Images
Backup running back Emanuel Wilson has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Seahawks, a league source told The Athletic.
Wilson, 26, entered the league in 2023 as an undrafted free agent and has spent his first three seasons in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. Wilson has only been in a backup role so far in his career. Entering the 2025 season, Wilson had never recorded at least 15 carries in a game and had not had a 100-yard performance.
He ranked No. 131 on The Athletic’s top-150 free agents list and was the ninth-best running back available. He became a free agent after the Packers declined to tender him a contract.
The Seahawks had a need at the position after losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency.
Wilson got his first real opportunity in the Packers’ Week 12 win over the Minnesota Vikings, which starting running back Josh Jacobs missed because of injury. Wilson stepped in as the starter and had a career-high 28 carries for 107 yards and two rushing touchdowns, as well as a couple of catches for 18 yards. Wilson also started Green Bay’s regular-season finale, in which he had 18 carries for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Given the limitations in opportunity through his first three seasons, Wilson has just 1,083 yards through 41 games in the NFL. He hasn’t factored in much on special teams either, playing just 6 percent of the Packers’ special teams snaps in 2025 after being essentially non-existent in that regard his first two seasons.
This story will be updated.
Mar 12, 2026
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