2023 Seattle Seahawks season

The 2023 season was the Seattle Seahawks' 48th in the National Football League and their 14th and final season under the head coach/general manager tandem of Pete Carroll and John Schneider. The Seahawks matched their 9–8 record from the previous year, but unlike 2022, it was not enough to qualify for the playoffs, as they finished in third place in the division behind the [2023 2023 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers] and [2023 2022 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams], and in a three-way tie with the [2023 2023 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers] and New Orleans Saints for the last Wild Card spot, which the Packers claimed on a strength of victory tiebreaker.
Despite a 5–2 start, key injuries to Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III, DK Metcalf, and Devon Witherspoon, and poor defensive play led to the Seahawks losing five of their next six. While the Seahawks would win two games in a row, a loss to the Steelers cost them control of their own destiny. In total, Seattle played 11 games and went 3–8 against teams that finished with a winning record, culminating in a collapse that cost them an appearance in the postseason.
This was the second time in three seasons that Seattle missed the playoffs, and was the first season since 2009 that Dave Canales was not on the team's payroll, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired him to be their offensive coordinator for one year. Canales would go on to be hired as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers the following year.
On March 26, 2023, the Seahawks resigned longtime linebacker Bobby Wagner, who played for the [2022 Los Angeles 2023 Los Angeles Rams season|Rams season|Los Angeles Rams] during the previous season, for a second stint with the team.
On January 10, 2024, head coach Pete Carroll was relieved of his duties following the season's conclusion, having served since 2010. Carroll would transition to an unspecified advisory role within the Seahawks organization before subsequently being hired as head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders the following year.
The Seattle Seahawks drew an average home attendance of 68,735 in eight home games in the 2023 NFL season, the 18th highest in the league.

Draft

Name	Position	College	Ref.
Holton Ahlers	QB	East Carolina
M. J. Anderson	DE	Iowa State
Michael Ayers	LB	Ashland
Jake Bobo	WR	UCLA
Lance Boykin	CB	Coastal Carolina
Cam Bright	LB	[2022 2022 Washington Huskies football team\|Washington Huskies football team\|Washington]
Arquon Bush	CB	Cincinnati
James Campbell	CB	[2022 2022 Montana Grizzlies football team\|Montana State Bobcats football team\|Montana State]
Robert Cooper	DT	Florida State
Noah Gindorff	TE	North Dakota State
John Hall	WR	Northwood
Griffin Hebert	TE	Louisiana Tech
C. J. Johnson	WR	East Carolina
Matt Landers	WR	Arkansas
Tyjon Lindsey	WR	Oregon State
Patrick O'Connell	LB	Montana
Ty Okada	S	Montana State
Morrell Osling III	S	UCLA
Kendall Randolph	G	Alabama
Chris Smith	RB	Louisiana
Chris Stoll	LS	Penn State
Jonathan Sutherland	S	Penn State
Jacob Sykes	DE	UCLA
Jonah Tavai	DT	San Diego State
Christian Young	S	[2022 2022 Arizona Wildcats football team\|Arizona Wildcats football team\|Arizona]

'''Draft trades'''

Regular season

Schedule

Divisional matchups: the NFC West played the NFC East and the AFC North.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Seahawks were favored to win the matchup against the division rival Los Angeles Rams, as they were looking to return to competition following an injury-plagued season the year prior. Seattle had managed an improbable season in 2022 as quarterback Geno Smith managed to play a major factor in the team returning to the postseason, winning NFL Comeback Player of the Year in the process, in addition to sweeping the Rams. The Rams' roster had also shown notable signs of decline with such offseason departures of players including Jalen Ramsey and Taylor Rapp. Seattle started the first half strong as the Rams' offense found minor difficulties in converting on first downs despite managing a touchdown from rookie running back Kyren Williams to finish the first quarter leading at 7–3. Seattle quickly responded with a touchdown catch from DK Metcalf, and a field goal to lead the game 13–7 by the half. During the first quarter, Metcalf began trading insults with the Rams' sidelines, leading him to land an illegal hit on Los Angeles' cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon after the play, infuriating Sean McVay after no flag was thrown. The Rams' secondary responded strongly in the second half, shutting out the Seahawks for the remainder of the game. Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua managed an impressive performance for his rookie debut, making 10 catches for 119 yards. The Rams' running backs had also managed an impressive showing as Kyren Williams and Cam Akers combined for 81 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams' defense managed to lock Seattle's passing game as they failed to convert a first down within Rams territory for the remainder of the game. Two fourth-quarter field goals from Rams kicker Brett Maher would secure the victory 30–13 for the Rams, and the Seahawks fell to 0–1 on the season.

Week 4: at New York Giants

The win ensured the Seahawks of remaining perfect at MetLife Stadium, having never lost to the Giants and Jets, their NFL co-tenants.

Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

The Seahawks traveled to Cincinnati to face the reigning AFC North Champions on the road. Despite their defense holding Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense to three points from the end of the second quarter onwards, the Seahawks offense failed to find the end zone on all but their first red zone trips. As a result, the Seahawks were narrowly defeated 13–17 and fell to 3–2 on the season, while also failing to capture their first win in Cincinnati since 1993.

Week 9: at Baltimore Ravens

The loss to the Ravens was the second worst loss for the Seahawks under Pete Carroll, only eclipsed by a 42–7 loss to the Rams at home back in 2017.

Week 11: at Los Angeles Rams

Seattle entered their second matchup against the rival Rams boasting a 6–3 record while the Rams struggled mightily as they limped into the game following three straight losses. Despite a lone touchdown to start the game; the Seahawks' offense became increasingly overwhelmed by the Rams' defense as they only managed two additional field goals to end the first half. Nearing the end of the third quarter; Geno Smith suffered a brutal tackle from Aaron Donald, that injured his elbow, forcing Seattle to play Drew Lock who played very poorly. Both sides continued to grow increasingly hostile with each other after rookie Cornerback Devon Witherspoon dealt a violent Suplex tackle on Rams wide receiver Austin Trammell. The Rams steadily cut the lead down to 2 points headed into the end of the fourth quarter, even managing a critical interception thrown by Lock. The Rams later took the lead by 1 point following a field goal, prompting Smith to return to the game for a possible drive despite his injured elbow. Desperate to regain the lead, Smith managed two desperate first down conversions to set up Jason Myers for a 55-yard field goal; as they attempted to retake the lead. A timeout was later called by Rams head coach Sean McVay in an effort to ice Myers' kick; proving to be successful when he missed the field goal as it sailed wide-right; ending the game in a crushing fashion as the Seahawks fell to the Rams in a sweep.

Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers

'''Thanksgiving Day games'''

Week 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

With the Seahawks down 13–17 with just 1:52 left in the game, Drew Lock, who was starting place for the injured Geno Smith led a 92-yard touchdown drive concluding with a 29-yard touchdown throw to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with just 0:28 left. The Seahawks picked off Jalen Hurts on the next drive to seal the win and improve to 7–7. With the win, the Seahawks increased their winning streak over the Eagles to eight—including the teams' 2019 postseason meeting.