Before Eric Saubert made the game-winning catch in one of the greatest regular-season victories in Seahawks history, he had just two receptions for 21 yards in his previous eight games with Seattle.

And before that, Saubert, a ninth-year veteran who came into the NFL as a fifth-round pick out of Drake, had played for eight other teams, never staying in one place for more than two seasons.

With the Seahawks, his ninth team, Saubert has become something of a glue guy for the offense and the locker room, a veteran presence on a young roster, a player well-versed in the type of West Coast scheme Klint Kubiak is running in Seattle. While some people might look at his journeyman career and think Saubert has faced challenges with all the uncertainty and bouncing around, he found value in his varied experiences.

"I would say how thankful I am for that, because I've met so many great people on the road," he said. "I've learned so many things, it's kind of made me the player I am. I've taken little things from different places and different people. A lot of people, I think, could look at it and say how hard it's been, but I just appreciate it, and I'm grateful for my time and the stops and the people that I've met."

And long before his overtime heroics, a 2-point conversion catch that ended Seattle's 38-37 overtime win over the Rams, Saubert had used those experiences to make himself into a player who quickly won over teammates and coaches in Seattle.

"Saub is the man," receiver Cooper Kupp said earlier this month. "Got some great vibery about him, the confidence that he brings. Just picking up guys around him. He's awesome. He's an awesome player for us, and as it's been documented, he is probably the funniest guy on the team. I would second that. And, he's just great. Everyone here loves him. What he does for the guys around him, communicating and doing things to help the guys around him, making sure you're taking care of your pocket of the offense, he embodies that. It's going to be great to have him back."

It didn't take Saubert long to realize he fit in well with the Seahawks, and talks started about a possible contract extension earlier this season, but a calf injury landed him on injured reserve, causing him to miss six games. That made him wonder if that extension might fall apart, but instead he signed a one-year extension upon returning from injured reserve. And right on cue, he came through with the biggest play of his career not long after securing his future for 2026.

"He's a great guy," Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold said. "He's someone who's been around the block a little bit, been on a few teams, and just understands what this whole thing is about. So it's a great guy to have in that locker room for guys to look up to. Not necessarily a vocal leader. Sauby can be a vocal leader for us, but more so just kind of seeing how he moves throughout his day and how he does things. It's always a vet presence that's good to have."

And the way Darnold sees it, it was fitting that Saubert ended up coming through in the biggest moment of the game despite being the quarterback's fourth read on the play.

"That's our team," Darnold said. "There's a ton of guys that can step up no matter what the situation calls for, no matter what the situation is. Whether it's a two-point play to win the game or it's a play like in the Colts game where he just, same kind of route, ends up coming open and he's going to get nine yards for us."

In the aftermath of his big moment in one of the best games of the NFL season, Saubert's phone predictably was blowing up with messages of congratulations.

"Too many to count," he said. "But appreciate the love, obviously. It's cool."

As for coming through in such a big moment, Saubert said, "It was awesome. Putting the nail in the coffin in that game, being a part of a culmination of a lot of other plays that guys made. To be in a big moment, have my name called, and answer is cool."

By Tuesday, Saubert was happy to reflect on that play and the win, which clinched a playoff berth for Seattle and moved them into first place, but he added that the Seahawks have to move on from that and prepare for the task at hand, their Week 17 game in Carolina.

"It's pretty cool, that means clinch the playoffs, make us the one seed," he said. "I think we're all we're all moving past it this week, trying to get ready for Carolina."

And as the Seahawks try to stay on top of the NFC, Saubert is grateful for the home he has found with the Seahawks.

"The closeness of our locker room and the hunger you find in everybody," he said. "Everybody's trying to get better, and everybody everybody's collectively working towards one goal. And when you add the brotherhood in there that we have in this in this locker room, it's something special. Not everywhere is like that, I'd say."