Speaking to his team in the locker room after a dominant win over the Vikings, Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV reflected on the challenges he has faced this year, and how he has found some inner peace by returning to his faith.

"I was telling them it's been rough for me," Jones said not long after sharing his message with his teammates following a 26-0 win.

"It's been tough. The release that I get is being around these guys and playing football."

Jones, who had offseason knee surgery, causing him to be limited in training camp, then suffered an unrelated knee injury in Seattle's Week 9 win over the Commanders, causing him to miss two of the past three games before returning for Sunday's game.

Knee injuries, of course, are nothing compared to what Jones went through away from football. In late July, Jones' father died of Ewing Sarcoma just after Jones had reported to training camp. Jones returned home to Georgia to be with his family before his father passed, then eventually rejoined the Seahawks to prepare for the season with a heavy heart.

Jones has played at his usual high level throughout this season, his second with the Seahawks, but until recently he also felt like something was missing.

"I told the guys that I feel like I've been missing something," Jones said. "I wear this cross around my neck, but I haven't been living like it. I took this time this week and gave my life back to my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, got back on my knees, started praying. What he did for me out there on the field, it comes from that, but the biggest thing for me is I got that peace that I was missing and it's going to help me."

On Sunday, Jones built upon what has already been an outstanding season with one the best games of his career. With the Vikings threatening to take the lead after a second-quarter Seahawks turnover gave Minnesota great field position, Jones picked off an ill-advised fourth-down pass from rookie quarterback Max Brosmer, and sprinted 85 yards for the first touchdown of his NFL career. That score put the Seahawks up 10-0, and with the defense dominating throughout the game, set the tone in what ended up being the team's first shutout since Week 3 of the 2015 season. Jones, who had a team-high 12 tackles to run his team-leading total up to 83 this season, added a second interception later in the game, giving him five for the season, also a team high.

"He had such a great message to the team in the locker room," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "The guy has been through a lot, it's just the position that we're put in as coaches. That's really the reason you have a team, is that you can be there for your brother when they need you. I know we're in a business and there are transactions and stuff, but at the end of the day these are the relationships you're going to have for a long time hopefully. It's really great to see that the rest of the guys are there to support him.

"And he's playing great football. You know, playing great football and battled through some health things throughout the year as well. I mean, some of the plays he's making in the run game are just really tremendous, really great plays that allows us to really call some defenses that you normally wouldn't call in those situations."

As great as Jones has been in terms of his playmaking ability from snap to whistle, what really stands out to his teammates is the type of leader he is despite only turning 26 last week.

"He's a great leader," running back Kenneth Walker III said. "I love Ernest. We talk a lot. Everybody's my brother, but that's one of my close teammates. With everything he's gone through, he continues to keep a positive mindset and continues to bring energy and life to the team. We've got nothing but love for Ernest, and we've always got his back."

Said quarterback Sam Darnold, "It was his birthday recently, and it got put up in the team meeting. Every time there is a birthday Coach asks how old are you, and the guy has to say their age. Ernest said 26, and everyone looked around like, 'Are you serious, that's it?' So he is wise beyond his years just with how he speaks and just with the way he plays football as well. So like I said, he's a great leader for us and someone we can all depend on."

Cooper Kupp, who was already an established veteran when the Rams drafted Jones in 2021, was blown away by Jones' leadership and maturity as a rookie, and continues to be four years later.

"I've loved Ernest since he was in L.A.," Kupp said. "What he did as he came in as a rookie, the way he carried himself, the way he could command a room as a rookie middle linebacker. Coming in and being able to learn this game, understand it at such a high level, but also be able to call people up to his standard, and being able to set the standard, it was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen.

"He's one of the best leaders I've ever been around. And to be able to go through all the adversity, the traumas, but continue to hold fast and hold strong and overcome, and be the same Ernest, regardless of the circumstance that have been imposed on him, regardless of the things happening in his life, just being able to hold his bearing and be there for the guys over and over and over again, it's an impressive thing. I love Ern, and he knows everyone on this team's got his back. It's just awesome to see him out there making plays and doing what he's doing."

Unbeknownst to Kupp, Jones was in the room as the receiver said those words, awaiting his own postgame press conference, making for a somewhat emotional start to Jones' press conference.

"For me, that's what it's all about," Jones said of Kupp's support. "Once football's over not too many people are going to remember the football player. I want everybody to remember the person, I want everybody to know I love each and every guy that's in that locker room. I put my life on the line for them, and that's no exaggeration. That meant everything to me. I'll take that with me forever."

Jones, who arrived in a midseason trade last year, has been a standout on the field ever since he joined the Seahawks. What teammates and coaches continue to rave about, however, is the quality of the man and what that has meant for the team, which is why they were all so excited about his huge performance on Sunday.

"That was so cool," said guard Grey Zabel. "EJ has gone through so much this year. To have a play like that come to life is just so cool. Good things happen to great people. Shoutout EJ for that. He's one of those dudes. He's the leader of our defense, heart of our defense. So excited to see that happen and that come to fruition."

For Jones, it is simply a matter of living the lessons his parents instilled in him.

"The way I was raised, the way I was brought up, the person matters," he said. "That's what I'm teaching my son. At the end of the day when we leave this earth, what type of person were you? Can people count on you? Can people trust you? And did you stand by your word? That's what I lean on."