It was Week 14 of last season when Seattle's defensive end Rylie Mills played his first snap as a Seahawk. Mills the fifth-round pick who was rehabbing an ACL surgery from an injury he sustained while during his last season at Notre Dame, spent majority of his rookie year recovering and working his way back to full strength.
"I think going through the process, I think a lot of people would have broke," Mills said. "I think it would have been a tough thing to deal with having an ACL injury, like what mine was, and I think a lot of people would have quit or not seen the light at the end of a tunnel."
He added, "I just think I'm mentally tougher than I thought, and I think I was prepared for it and so I think one thing I learned is that no matter the obstacle or the challenge, it's just one day at a time. And the opportunity may not come tomorrow or the next day, but eventually when it comes, you're gonna be ready for it."
For Mills the light at the end of that tunnel was bright. He played at least one defensive snap for the Seahawks from Week 14 all the way through the Super Bowl. In Weeks 16 and 17 he made a few tackles, but it was in the Super Bowl where Mills reached his high of the season. On his first snap of the Super Bowl, he notched his first-career sack. Mills blew right through the guard, taking down both the guard and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
"It's funny because I don't remember the play at all," Mills said. "I kind of just blacked out and went, and just remembered after the play, celebrating. It's cool to look back like 'Man, that worked out perfect.'"
Teammate AJ Barner remembers how excited everyone was for Mills.
"I think he took out the guard and the quarterback on that play, and obviously when any of our teammates make a big play, we're going to get hyped for him," Barner said. "And I think for Rylie to make his first (sack) and that moment was awesome. I think it speaks to the player that he is, and we're going to be able to count on Rylie in big moments. It's the Super Bowl, his first play, and the moment wasn't too big for him. That goes a long way."
That play was sort of a punctuation mark on what had been a long rookie year for Mills.
"A couple days thinking after, I was like, 'Man, that really was like a storybook kind of ending on it.'"
Mills added, "Looking back at it, I feel like my takeaway is it kind of just felt like the end of like a long chapter in mycareer," Mills said of his sack. "I felt like from the start of the injury and the rehab process, you go through so many different phases and the ultimate goal is to get back and get back to who I was before the injury."
After watching from the sidelines most of last season, this offseason has been a pleasant change for him and he's ready to take on the challenge of his second season.
"I feel like now I'm fully back to myself and fully back to who I was before the injury. So, I want to step in that role and be a player that gets better every day. For me, it's just about that improvement, and I know not everything's been perfect, but I want to get better each and every day that I'm out here."
"It's been nice having the offseason just to kind of get back to working out and get my body back… I feel a whole different player than I was when I first came back."
The Seahawks completed their OTA program with a final practice on June 4 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Maxen Hook (43) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) and wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (33) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Levi Wentz (83) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ja'Markis Weston (46) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Dansby (37) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole (57) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (49) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Nick Kallerup (89) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) and linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (32) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (49) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ja'Markis Weston (46) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Rodney Thomas II (24) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Maxen Hook (43) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Uso Seumalo (92) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Bubba Thomas (69) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. (56) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jalan Gaines (47) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Aidan Hubbard (93) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Bryce Cabeldue (77) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle/guard Mason Richman (78) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Logan Brown (73) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (33) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Beau Stephens (60) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks senior offensive assistant/offensive line coach John Benton with guard Grey Zabel (76) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (34) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Connor O'Toole (57) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) and wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (33) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10), wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) and guard Christian Haynes (64) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Federico Maranges (62) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) and wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (33) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) and wide receiver Irv Charles (85) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) and wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. (87) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Rodney Thomas II (24) and wide receiver Cody White (82) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Andre Fuller (35) and wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (84) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Irv Charles (85) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr. (87) and safety Bud Clark (9) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (84) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Maxen Hook (43) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (34) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Dansby (37) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Maxen Hook (43) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Irv Charles (85) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Dansby (37) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Karl Scott on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (84) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashad Rochelle (35) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (33) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) and linebacker Derick Hall (58) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36), running back Jacardia Wright (31) and running back Jadarian Price (8) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jacardia Wright (31) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. (33) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (8) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) and safety Julian Love (20) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on the final day of OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
