It all started with second-team All-Pro Leonard Williams and second-year standout Byron Murphy II, who combined for more sacks (14.0) and quarterback pressures (108) than any other defensive tackle duo in the NFL.<\/p>\n
Beyond the stat sheet, Williams and Murphy blew up countless other plays and created opportunities for teammates by drawing a steady stream of double teams. They also were big-time disruptors against the run, serving as key cogs for a stifling run defense that yielded a league-low 3.7 yards per carry.<\/p>\n
In addition, veteran nose tackle Jarran Reed complemented the elite Williams-Murphy tandem as a valuable rotational piece. Reed chipped in 2.5 sacks and did plenty of dirty work in the trenches, especially as an early-down run stuffer.<\/p>\n
And here\u2019s the kicker: As great as Seattle\u2019s interior D-line was in 2025, there\u2019s a chance it could be even better in 2026.<\/p>\n
Why? Two words: Rylie Mills.<\/p>\n
Mills, a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, missed most of this past season while recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in a College Football Playoff game with Notre Dame in December 2024. Mills had a highly productive college career with the Fighting Irish \u2013 including 7.5 sacks in 13 games as a senior \u2013 but the injury plummeted his draft stock.<\/p>\n
After Mills fell to the Seahawks in the fifth round, NFL Network\u2019s Daniel Jeremiah told Seattle Sports\u2019 Brock and Salk last spring that he viewed the Notre Dame product as a late-round steal<\/a>. Jeremiah, a former NFL scout, said if Mills hadn\u2019t gotten injured, he would have ranked him as a top-50 prospect in last year\u2019s draft class.<\/p>\n Mills ended up flashing that talent on football\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n After making his NFL debut in Week 15 and easing into action with limited snaps over the final month of the regular season, the 6-foot-5, 290-pound Mills announced his presence in spectacular fashion with a jaw-dropping sack in the second quarter of the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n Rylie Mills fights through the lineman for another Seahawks sack!<\/p>\n Super Bowl LX on NBC \u2014 NFL (@NFL) February 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n With a stunning display of force, Mills used a bull rush to completely overpower New England Patriots rookie left guard Jared Wilson. Mills pushed Wilson back about 6 yards and sent him directly into quarterback Drake Maye, who Mills then wrestled to the ground for an emphatic sack.<\/p>\n Mills also had another impressive play in the third quarter, when he drove Patriots right guard Mike Onwenu back several yards and ultimately drew a double-team that helped set up a sack for Murphy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Despite playing just five defensive snaps in the Super Bowl, Mills finished with one sack and two pressures.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a very small sample size, no doubt, but it provided a glimpse of Mills\u2019 tantalizing potential.<\/p>\n And the idea of adding that potential to an already stellar Seattle D-line? That should have Seahawks fans salivating.<\/p>\n Seattle Seahawks offseason coverage<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Bump: Bryant should be a priority for Seattle Seahawks to re-sign<\/a>
Stream on @NFLPlus<\/a> + Peacock pic.twitter.com\/hFaoA9F3to<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0The Ken Walker contract situation: What you need to know<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Paul Allen\u2019s Seattle Seahawks ownership was a \u2018one of one\u2019 legacy<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Four things we learned from new Seattle Seahawks OC Brian Fleury<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Why Macdonald landed on Fleury as Seattle Seahawks\u2019 new OC<\/a><\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1752802210_317_SeattleSportsEmail-830x100-1.jpg\")
\t