In his 10th season in the NFL, and first full season with the Seahawks, Leonard Williams was a force on Seattle's defensive line, piling up 11.0 sacks, 28 quarterback hits and a career-high 16 tackles for loss.
Yet somehow, despite being one of the league most productive interior linemen, Williams was an All-Pro snub and only made the Pro Bowl as an alternate. Now, in 2025, Williams has arguably been even better in his 11thseason, helping anchor a talented defensive line that has been one of the league's best early this season.
And despite last year's snubs for postseason recognition, Williams' play is drawing plenty of notice this time around.
"Absolutely dominant," is how former NFL offensive lineman and current NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger described Leonard's play in a Week 1 film breakdown. "… In his (11th)year, Big Cat has never been better than he is right now."
Or there are the comments made by the NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah on Seattle Sports 710AM last week, saying, "I'm watching that tape, and you'd have a hard time telling me that there was a better football player in that game than 99 for Seattle. Just watching what he was doing to guys up front, Leonard Williams was pretty dominant."
So how has Williams, a former first-round pick who previously played for the Jets and Giants before being traded to the Seahawks in 2023, taken his game to new heights in his 30s?
It turns out the key to all this dominance, it's fun.
OK, so being 6-foot-5, 310 pounds and athletic enough to return an interception 92 yards for a touchdown—something Williams did last season—is also a pretty big part of his success, but another significant factor is the freedom and joy Williams has been playing with in head coach Mike Macdonald's system.
"There's been times when I've played in defenses where I was scared to step in the wrong gap or make a mistake," Williams said. "That comes with like trust in my back level, the guys behind me, and the guys next to me as well playing off of each other. I think that's what's been so fun for me playing here is that I've just been playing with so much freedom and it just brought back the fun of football for me."
Asked how that level of fun has contributed to his resurgence in Seattle, Williams said, "I think it's 80-90 percent of it. Just having fun out there and not being worried about whether the coaches trust that I am going to do what I have to do. If the guys like EJ (Ernest Jones IV) are going to trust that I am in my spot. I think everyone knows what type of player I am here, and I am here now. They allow me to just play fast, and with that freedom, it allows me to play fast. When you play fast and take out the thinking, that is when you play your best ball."
Williams' numbers through two games are solid enough—he has half a sack, shared with Byron Murphy II in Sunday's win over Pittsburgh, a tackle for loss in Week 1, 11 total tackles and three quarterback hits—but those numbers don't show how often he is beating blocks and hurrying quarterbacks or affecting running lanes, or how often the attention that other teams focus on stopping him creates opportunities for teammates.
"To me, there's no D-tackle in this league that's better than Leo right now," defensive tackle Jarran Reed said. "That's a testament to how hard he works every day and what he does on the field. That's my guy. I truly believe that, just look at his body of work. There's nobody that's more dominant than him."
And the best part for the Seahawks' hopes for a successful season is that Williams is far from being the only standout on Seattle's line. Second-year defensive tackle Byron Murphy II had 1.5 sacks last week, with Reed adding another, and with the edge group of Derick Hall, Boye Mafe, DeMarcus Lawrence and Uchenna Nwosu adding to the mix, the Seahawks' defensive front has been a handful for Seattle's first two opponents, both when it comes to the run game and pass protection.
Even better for the Seahawks, they're getting pressure without blitzing. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Seahawks generated pressure on 40 percent of Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' drop backs when rushing four or fewer defenders, resulting in 13 pressures and three sacks on those plays. With the front four getting home, the Seahawks blitzed on only four drop backs.
"With the guys we have in our room, a lot of times we're always like, 'Hey, don't call pressures, let us rush. Don't call games, just let us get a one-on-one," Williams said. "But also knowing the type of guys we have, other teams know what type of guys we have as well. So, offenses aren't just going to get in a five-man protection and just let us rush. They're going to chip us. They're going to do seven-man protections, play actions and things like that. It makes our job harder, and it makes us have to work a little bit more together."
But despite that early success, Williams and Seattle's defensive front are looking for even more going forward, starting with this week's game against New Orleans.
"As a group, we still think we can push it to another level," Williams said. "I think we did a good job affecting the quarterback. We stopped the run pretty well. There's still so many things that we think we can clean up as a front seven. We just have so many guys that have the capability and have the want to dominate games and win games regardless of who we're playing. I think we had glimpses and showed that we could do it at times, but I feel like there's still another level."
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center as they get ready to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) and cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (34) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (50) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle J.R. Singleton (70) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde at practice on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (24) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Jackson (84) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) and wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) and wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
