New Seahawks Running Back Jadarian Price A "Class Act"

Seahawks general manager/president of football operations John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald applaud the person Jadarian Price is.

Apr 30, 2026 at 05:18 PM

Seahawks.com Writer

Even though the draft was a week ago, it took a few days for it all to settle in that he was drafted to the NFL.

"The person I am, as soon as something good happens, I'm like, 'Okay, on to the next. How can I get better from this point on?', new Seahawks running back Jadarian Price said. "It didn't sink in until a couple days after I had the draft parties and that stuff. When I'm sitting down and meeting with Coach and going over the playbook, it's like, okay, it's the real deal now."

When the Seahawks drafted running back Jadarian Price in the first round of the 2026 draft, they got a top-two running back of the entire draft next to his college teammate Jeremiyah Love.

"I just think it's a pretty cool story that these guys get drafted in the first round too, from the same school," Schneider said. "It was really the story you watched all fall. I mean, these guys were dynamic, the two of these guys. Different runners."

Price's decision to stay and play at Notre Dame, despite offers elsewhere is well-documented. But it was important for Price to stay.

"It was in my heart to stay at Notre Dame," Price said. "It's the place I love and to build relationships with the guys in the locker room. What we had done the year before going to the National Championship, that's what I wanted to do and that's why I wanted to stay there. But also I made a challenge to myself to split reps with the best player in college football and I did that, and I showed that I can do it at the highest level. Sitting here now, it's the greatest decision I could have made."

And while the Seahawks drafted a "great player," they also drafted a person who coaches rave about off the field too.

"The person's outstanding," Schneider said after the draft. "The competitor, he's a Seahawk. It's really cool."

Whether it be using his NIL sponsorship money to buy Christmas gifts for children in Indiana, or having a day named "Jadarian Price Day” in his hometown of Denison, Texas, people consistently talk about the person, not just the player, Price is.

"The mayor of my town, he called me like a week before," Price said. "And he's like, hey, we're trying to figure out when we're going to get a day for you. I'm like, I don't think I need a day. It's not that serious. But everyone was like, 'No, you need a day.'"

And now January 20, 2026, in Denison, Texas will be remembered as "Jadarian Price Day."

"When he talks about being a pro," Schneider said. "Just a classy person, obviously was raised well. I actually felt bad for him during the process, kind of in the background watching all these Zoom calls and everything, how many times he had to answer the question about why he stayed at Notre Dame. The guy is like, there's 32 teams in the National Football League and we asked him several times. I'm sure he had to answer it with all the other clubs, as well, and he just handled it just with ease. God rest his soul, Ted Thompson would say, this is a class act. This is a classy pro right here. That just really stood out throughout the spring."

Price, the "class act" said he has people in his inner circle to thank for the person he's developed into.

"I had a great support system," Price said. "Have a huge family, a family and friends and coaches who, you know, supported me and got me to who I am today."

His mindset and the way he carries himself is also a result of what he learned during his time at Notre Dame.

"Just carrying yourself as a professional," Price said. "I'm not in college anymore, but at Notre Dame you had a rigorous athletic schedule but also academic schedule, so you always had to be on time, take care of your stuff, but also taking care of your body. I really learned my body and how to take care of my body outside of the facility, as well. Yeah, just carrying those habits over."

Now, the rookie is preparing for Seattle's rookie minicamp which will take place on Friday and Saturday.

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The Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jeffrey Myers/Jeffrey Myers

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The Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jeffrey Myers/Jeffrey Myers

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The Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

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The Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

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The Seahawks selected Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Jeffrey Myers/Jeffrey Myers