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Seattle Seahawks star Leonard Williams had an honest reaction the NFL Schedule Release.

Leonard Williams did not need a long caption to explain how he felt about the Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 schedule.

The Seahawks defensive tackle dropped a supercut video of himself repeatedly yelling “AYEEE” and “LET’S GO,” then made the meaning clear with his caption: it was his “reaction to the schedule drop.”

For Seahawks fans, it was a fitting response. Seattle’s 2026 slate is not quiet, not subtle and not short on national attention. The Seahawks announced a franchise-record six primetime games, including five at Lumen Field, and will open the season on Wednesday, September 9, against the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl LX rematch. Seattle beat New England 29-13 in February to win the title.

That is the kind of schedule that invites noise. Williams provided plenty.

Leonard Williams Reacted to the Seattle Seahawks 2026 Schedule

Williams’ reaction landed because it matched the energy of the schedule itself.

The Seahawks are not easing into their follow-up act. They open against the Patriots, go on the road for back-to-back games against the Arizona Cardinals and Washington Commanders, then return home for matchups with the Los Angeles Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. Seattle’s first major short-week test comes in Week 6 at the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football.

The Seahawks’ official site described the schedule as one that includes six primetime games, a Week 11 bye and 10 games against teams that reached the 2025 postseason. Seattle will also play games on every day of the week except Tuesday because of the Wednesday opener, a Friday Christmas game and a Saturday matchup in Philadelphia.

The Seahawks are defending champions, but the NFL schedule release made clear that they will be treated like one of the league’s biggest draws. Their opener is a rematch of the Super Bowl. Their Christmas game is against the Los Angeles Rams. Their road finale is also against the Rams, the team Seattle beat in the NFC championship game.

For a defensive lineman like Williams, that means marquee matchups against some of the league’s most visible offenses, and plenty of chances for Seattle’s defense to shape the national conversation again.

Seahawks’ Schedule Puts Leonard Williams Back in the Spotlight

Williams has become one of the Seahawks’ tone-setters up front, and Seattle’s 2026 schedule gives him no shortage of high-profile stages.

The Week 6 trip to Denver is one of the early tests. Seahawks.com’s John Boyle framed that matchup as a meeting of “two of the league’s top defenses,” with Seattle traveling on a short week for a Thursday night game against last year’s AFC runners-up.

The schedule also gives Seattle three straight primetime games in October and early November: at Denver, home against the Kansas City Chiefs and home against the Chicago Bears. The Chiefs game adds another layer because Kansas City will come to Lumen Field with former Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, who finished his Seattle tenure as Super Bowl MVP.

That stretch is where Williams’ reaction starts to look like more than just volume. The Seahawks have a chance to turn the first half of the season into a statement, but it will require their defensive front to travel well, handle quick turnarounds and avoid letdowns after emotional games.

Seattle’s Week 11 bye helps split the season, but the second half is not exactly gentle. The Seahawks visit the 49ers in Week 12, host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football in Week 13, host the New York Giants in Week 14, travel to Philadelphia in Week 15 and then host the Rams on Christmas.

That is a run built for national attention, playoff implications and plenty of emotion.