Seahawks’ Super Bowl win was built on a trail of Jets front office mistakes

The Seattle Seahawks secured their second Super Bowl title in franchise history on Sunday with a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots, but it was a series of decisions made by the New York Jets that may have allowed that team to reach those heights.

No, this is not to suggest the Seahawks owe a Super Bowl ring to every current or former member of the Jets’ front office, but it is fair to say that a handful of notable Jets decisions helped shape a Seattle roster that might have looked very different otherwise.

From Sam Darnold to Leonard Williams to Jason Myers, the Seahawks’ roster was full of former Jets players who not only helped them reach Super Bowl LX but played prominent roles once they arrived.

But the Jets connections — and contributions — expand beyond the obvious. As one X (formerly Twitter) user pointed out, the Seahawks' Super Bowl win was practically created on the back of failures from former Jets general manager Joe Douglas.

Joe Douglas and the Jets helped the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX

We can start with the obvious, It was Douglas whose inability to surround Darnold with a proper supporting cast ultimately led to the USC product flopping in New York. The Jets would trade him to the Carolina Panthers less than two years after Douglas was hired.

Of course, Darnold would eventually make his way to the Seahawks following stints with the Panthers, 49ers, and Vikings before becoming the first USC quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl. Thank you, Joe Douglas.

But it doesn't end there. As the Twitter user pointed out, Douglas also traded Leonard Williams to the Giants, who would subsequently ship him to Seattle a few years later. Williams proved to be one of the cornerstones of Seattle's championship-caliber defense.

The Jets also passed on selecting former Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the 2023 NFL Draft, opting instead for middling edge rusher Will McDonald. Douglas infamously didn't even have a first-round grade on the All-Pro wide receiver who broke Seahawks receiving records this season.

One could also point to the Jets' decision to let kicker Jason Myers walk in free agency all those years ago. While that was a choice made by former GM Mike Maccagnan, the lesson is still the same. The Seahawks don't win Super Bowl LX without Myers' five field goals in the game.

The list goes on. The Jets selected Breece Hall over Kenneth Walker III, and while Hall has had his moments with the team, Walker's outstanding postseason performance solidified his place in Seahawks history and earned him Super Bowl MVP honors.

The Seahawks won Super Bowl LX on their own merits, but maybe — just maybe — they should be sending a thank-you note to Joe Douglas and the Jets organization for their unwilling contributions to the roster that helped bring the Lombardi Trophy home.