During the second quarter of his first NFL start, Seahawks rookie safety Marquise Blair raced towards a scrambling Lamar Jackson, as did linebacker K.J. Wright. The Ravens quarterback slipped just before either player reached him, and Wright touched Jackson down a split second before Blair arrived, giving Wright credit for the tackle.
Television cameras caught Blair talking to his veteran teammate as they walked away from that play, and Wright later explained that the rookie was jokingly giving him a hard time for taking that tackle.
"We were right beside each other every play, and he was actually out there making jokes like, 'K.J., I'm trying to get this tackle, come on bro,'" Wright said. "He had some fun. Marquise did really well. He understood the defense really well, tackled really well, showed a lot of speed, so he's off to a good start."
That good start continued with an even better performance in Seattle's Week 8 win in Atlanta. In that game, Blair's second straight start, the second-round pick out of Utah had a team-high 11 tackles, as well as a crucial forced fumble at the 1-yard line to prevent a likely Falcons score. Blair's athletic ability and physical play have had a lot to do with his success in his first two starts, but so too has the mentality that Wright saw on display in that game against Baltimore. Even in the heat of the moment of his first career start, Blair was relaxed enough to crack jokes with his teammates; that showed Wright something he hasn't seen from many rookies over the course of his nine-year career.
"It surprised me, but it was cool though," Wright said. "It just showed how comfortable he was, showed his confidence."
Blair played well enough in place of an injured Bradley McDougald that the Seahawks would have wanted to find ways to get him on the field regardless of other injuries, but with Tedric Thompson going on injured reserve this week and with Lano Hill and Quandre Diggs battling injuries as well, Blair now appears to be a fixture in the starting lineup going forward.
In his mind, those impressive two starts didn't change anything for Blair, because he came into the season confident and feeling like he could be a starter in the NFL.
"I've been feeling comfortable," he said. "I've been playing football my whole life."
Asked if being a starter as a rookie was a goal, Blair answered, "Yeah, of course," in a tone that implied that it would crazy for him to answer any other way.
But even if Blair, a man of few words when it comes to the media, isn't overly impressed by what he has accomplished of late, he has definitely made an impression on coaches and teammates.
"It's all upside," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "I think everything is out in front of him. He's shown the running and hitting like we love. Very instinctive football player. Very tough. Every game is a good experience for him to grow and just continue to get better and more confident. He already plays with a lot of confidence in the way he attacks the football and attacks his plays to be made. He'll just get better over time."
Back in 2012 when Bobby Wagner was a rookie starting at middle linebacker, he remembers then linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. telling him "run fast, if you make a mistake, make it at 100 miles per hour."
Blair has shown that same approach—though not to be outdone, Wagner joked that Blair is maybe only going 99 miles per hour—flying around to make plays, even if there has been the occasional miscue to go along with a big tackle, pass breakup or forced fumble.
"He's a playmaker," Wagner said. "He really grasps the concepts of the defense but, he's just flying downhill making plays. He made a play on the goal line where he's making the tackle but, to have the mindset to try get the ball out right before the guy gets on the goal line. It just shows that—he has so much to learn but, where he's at is really impressive. As he gets his starts and as he recognizes the game is just the game, he's been playing all of his life, I think he's going to make a lot of big plays for us."
Blair's rookie season got off to a slower start than he would have liked due to injuries in the offseason and training camp, and as important as discipline is on the back end of Seattle's defense, he wasn't ready to be thrown into a big role at the start of the year. Because the way Carroll views it, you can't play safety in his defense if you're regularly giving up big plays, regardless of the upside. Even Earl Thomas was nearly benched as a rookie before he and Carroll had a talk about him being more disciplined on the back end of Seattle's defense. But while some rookie mistakes are inevitable, Blair has shown enough growth that the Seahawks trust him and see the big-play upside outweighing the occasional mistake.
"There's a lot to that," Carroll said of the line a safety has to walk between being assignment correct and trying to make big things happen. "First, they have to serve the defense. They've got to do things right, be where they're supposed to be and give us the basics and the fundamentals of it. Then, as they make the statement that they understand and they get it, then they'll feel more comfortable, more confident, and free up more to be more active. Some guys don't wait very long. This guy in particular, Marquise, he's going for it. We're really excited for his nature that he brings."
One of the most obvious things Blair brings is a hard-hitting nature that he has shown at every level. Blair said that mentality dates back to his days of playing tackle football with his four brothers and other neighborhood kids in Wooster, Ohio.
"Just playing backyard football growing up, tackle… We used to be outside every day playing football."
So who hit the hardest out of those five brothers?
"Me," Blair said incredulously.
Surrounded by reporters in his locker, Blair is cordial though not longwinded, but he also exudes a quiet confidence that turns into something else on gameday.
"He doesn't talk much, but he's a very mellow, cool guy and then all of a sudden he puts the helmet on and he's a wild man," said rookie linebacker Cody Barton, a teammate of Blair's at Utah. "He just wants to kill people. Great player, super smart on the field, has great range. Playing with him coming from Utah, I know how he plays and he's going to do great things here."
Barton made that prediction of great things for Blair in May during Seattle's rookie minicamp, and now eight games into his rookie season, Blair is looking like someone ready to live up to those words.
"Marquise Blair, he's a special guy, I think we saw that early on in the draft process and through that evaluation we felt like he was the future around here," Norton Jr. said. "He was a guy who really had a certain knack for the ball, he played very aggressive, he had a certain instinct, he had a natural ability to be around the ball and make a lot of plays. So, he's a guy that we feel like with development and in time, he's going to be a special guy."
The Seahawks face the Buccaneers at Lumen Field for Week 5 of the 2025 season. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. Take a look back at photos from previous games between the two teams.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Eddie McMillan (41) during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oct. 17, 1976, in Tampa, Fla. (NFL Photos via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Steve Largent catches a pass during game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium, Oct. 17, 1976. Seahawks won, 13-10. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Brent Williams (93) gestures to fans during play an NFL pre-season football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Aug. 13, 1994 in Seattle. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks' Merton Hanks (36) celebrates his third quarter sack, as Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jorge Diaz stands nearby, Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999, in Seattle. The Buccaneers won 16-3. (AP Photo/Matt Wallis)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) is tripped up by Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Dwight Smith in the first half Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom (96) sacks Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson (14) during the Seahawks 10-6 win Sunday Sept. 19, 2004 in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Koren Robinson (81) goes horizontal to pull in a fourth-quarter pass from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in front of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brian Kelly Sunday Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks defeated the Buccaneers 10-6. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms (2) can only watch as his fourth-quarter pass is intercepted by Seattle Seahawks' Michael Boulware, foreground left, during the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19, 2004, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks held on the beat the Buccaneers 10-6. Defending for the Buccaneers is Derrick Deese (70) as Seattle's Grant Wistrom (96) lies behind Simms. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, center, throws a touchdown pass while being defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Shelton Quarles, left, and Greg Spires during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Scott Audette)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett (18) celebrates with teammate Chris Spencer after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. Seattle won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott (40) winces as he gets hit by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Kevin Bentley during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2006, in Tampa, Fla. The Seahawks won 23-7. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, left, tries to evade Tampa Bay Buccaneers right cornerback Brian Kelly, second from left, and linebacker Derrick Brooks, second from right, in the second quarter Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 in a NFL football game at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Carnell Williams (24) tries to get past Seattle Seahawks' Darryl Tapp on a run during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia (7) scrambles for six yards as Seattle Seahawks' LeRoy Hill brings him down during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 20-6. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks tight end John Carlson (89) runs in for a touchdown following a catch during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008.(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham (34) runs for a first down as Seattle Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux (27) makes the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett (30) returns a kick past Tampa Bay Buccaneer's Ryan Clark (87) during an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seatle Seahawks 20-10. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) gets past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Greg White (91) and Gaines Adams during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008. Tampa Bay won 20-10. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Derrick Ward (28) in action against the Seattle Seahawks, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks' John Carlson crosses the goal line to score a touchdown in the second quarter under pressure from Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Sabby Piscitelli, right, during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense lines up against the Seattle Seahawks offense during an NFL game, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sammie Stroughter (18) is gang tackled during an NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Seattle Seahawks running back Julius Jones (22) is upended during an NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dec. 20, 2009 in Seattle. The Buccaneers won the game, 24-7. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Williams (19) dives past Seattle Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant (23) to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ben Obomanu (87) beats Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber (20) to score on a third-quarter two-point conversion during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Running back Marshawn Lynch (24) of the Seattle Seahawks runs upfield against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 26, 2010 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor (31) celebrates during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) rolls out to pass during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bruce Irvin in action during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) gets tackled by Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Akeem Spence (97) and defensive end William Gholston (92) during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers against the Seattle Seahawks in an NFL football game Sunday, November 3, 2013 in Seattle, WA. (AP Photo/Tom Hauck)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) sets for a snap in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls (34) tumbles for a gain against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) and cornerback Jeremy Lane (20) tackle Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) during an NFL football game Nov. 27, 2016 in Tampa, Fla. The Buccaneers won 14 - 5. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) runs for yardage past Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston (92) during the first half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
