PITTSBURGH—For a while now, Jarran Reed will tell anyone willing to listen that Byron Murphy II is going to have a breakout season in 2025.

And after a solid first game, Seattle's 2024 first-round pick was even better in Week two, recording 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits and five tackles as the Seahawks beat the Steelers 31-17.

"Look, I'm not surprised at all," Reed said after the game. "I knew he was going to do this, man. This guy works his ass off every day. He doesn't complain, he doesn't do anything but work hard. I saw the work he put in through the offseason and in training camp and in training camp. He deserves it, man, I was happy for him today to go out there and get two sacks."

Murphy's showing was just part of a second consecutive really strong showing from a defensive front that is looking to be a real strength of the Seahawks in their second season under Mike Macdonald. In addition to Murphy, the Seahawks got a sack from Reed, who celebrated with a hip-swiveling homage to Michael Bennett, and half a sack from Leonard Williams, who shared one with Murphy.

Seattle's defensive front also had nine hits on quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and limited the Steelers to 72 rushing yards on 21 carries.

"I feel really good, but we work hard for this," Reed said of the play of the D-line. "I'm not surprised, but we've got to keep going. It's just two games in, this has to be every game. It has to be the standard that we set for ourselves."

As for Murphy, the second-year defensive linemen is off to a great start with 11 tackles, and now 1.5 sacks, in three games, showing why Reed, and other coaches and teammates, were so high on his potential this year, with Reed going so far as to call Murphy a Defensive Player of the Year caliber player in training camp.

"In my mind, I can see him being defensive player of the year," Reed said this summer. "He's a great guy. He works hard, he listens. He's strong as shit, he's fast, and he's strong as shit. And I don't think nobody's going to be able to block him for real."

On Sunday, the Steelers had a heck of a time blocking Murphy, resulting in a couple of memorable plays against a future Hall of Fame quarterback.

"That's a moment I'll never forget, sacking Aaron Rodgers," Murphy said. "That's a legend, a Hall of Famer. I grew up watching Aaron Rodgers on the TV, so just to play against him is a blessing, but to sack him is even better. That's a moment I'll never forget."

As for his play overall through two games, Murphy said the experience gained last season is paying off now.

"As a player, I feel like I've gotten better," Murphy said. "Starting to progress, starting to make strides and get better as a player overall.

"After getting that year under my belt last year, coming into this year, everything has slowed down. So I'm able to see my opportunities, able to read things, pick up things faster."