Just over two weeks have passed since the Seattle Seahawks finished their 2024 season. Despite missing the playoffs, several players stood out and deserved recognition within the franchise.
The Seahawks had only one Pro Bowler, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and were left off the Associated Press All-Pro teams, even though some players deserved acknowledgment.
The Seahawks’ staff held a vote for team awards using a ranked-choice method. First-place votes earned 10 points, second-place votes got 5 points, and third-place votes were worth 3 points.
The awards included Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and Most Improved Player.
The final Seahawks awards for 2024 were MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, which went to the same player. The number before a player’s name shows their total points, and the number in parentheses indicates how many first-place votes they received.
Seahawks MVP and Defensive Player of the Year: DL Leonard Williams
Final MVP voting: 1. 50, Williams (5); 2. 21, JSN; 3. 19, Smith
Final DPOY voting: 1. 30, Williams (3); 2. 26, Love (1); 3. 20, Witherspoon (1); 4. 11, Jones; 5. 3, Reed
Defensive lineman Leonard Williams was the Seahawks’ top player in 2024. His impact was felt consistently throughout games, earning him both the MVP and DPOY awards. The MVP award was unanimous.
Seattle signed Williams to a three-year, $64.5 million deal in the offseason, a move that some experts criticized, saying it was too much for a veteran who hadn’t made a Pro Bowl since 2016. Williams, however, played like he wanted to prove he was worth every penny.
Williams ended the season with 64 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three pass deflections, and a 92-yard interception touchdown—the longest pick-six by a defensive lineman in NFL history. It was the first double-digit sack season for a Seahawks player since 2018.
Among interior defensive linemen, Williams was tied for second in sacks and run stops (41) despite missing two games. He was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December but did not make the Pro Bowl or All-Pro teams.
“Being older, year 10, I’m thinking about legacy and what I’m leaving behind, and things like that more often, and I feel like these big accolades like Pro Bowl and All-Pro and stuff like that play a big part in what type of legacy you are leaving behind,” Williams said before the season’s final game. “I feel like I definitely deserved it this year. But I’m happy for the guys who made it. They equally deserved it. That’s why they’re in the Pro Bowl.”
Williams had four games with two or more sacks, including back-to-back games in the final two contests of the season. He was a dominant force and should have been considered for All-Pro recognition.
Defensive lineman Byron Murphy II had a less impactful season, in part due to Williams’ strong performance. Murphy played a similar role on the Seahawks’ interior defensive line, but Williams was so effective that he stayed on the field more often.
Cornerback Devon Witherspoon and safety Julian Love also received first-place votes for DPOY.
Witherspoon didn’t put up huge numbers but was crucial to the defense. He led cornerbacks with 98 tackles, had six tackles for loss, one sack, and nine pass deflections, earning a Pro Bowl spot.
Love had one of the best seasons of his career, totaling 109 tackles, 12 pass deflections, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He was the most reliable in coverage during his six-year career.
Despite their strong seasons, Williams made the biggest impact, and it was clear he was the Seahawks’ best player. Even without leaguewide recognition, he was a standout within the team.
