Former Florida Gator Dante Fowler Jr. signs with Super Bowl Champs

The Seattle Seahawks have inked former Florida Gators edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year contract with a max value of $5 million. The Super Bowl LX champions add the 2015 third overall draft pick to an elite defensive unit that was a driving force in their title run last season.

The Seahawks opted to address this need in free agency rather than expending any of their 2026 NFL Draft selections on a pass rusher. Defensive coordinator Aden Durde and Seattle viewed Fowler as a priority target to fill this void, hosting the 6-foot-3-inch, 261-pound Lakewood, Florida native for a pre-draft visit. Durde coaches Fowler in both Atlanta and Dallas and called the 31-year-old a "top option."

Over his 10 seasons in the NFL, Fowler has recorded 58.5 sacks and 15 forced fumbles — his 11.5 sacks in 2019 were a career-high. A three-year starter at Florida, Fowler totaled 140 tackles and 14.5 sacks; his breakout season came in 2013, when he led the Gators' defensive line in tackles, earned All-SEC Second Team honors and tallied 10.5 tackles for loss.

For the defending champions, Fowler offers a veteran presence on the edge with a proven track record of production. His ability to set the edge against the run, disrupt plays early in the backfield and generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks makes him a potentially valuable piece to go alongside Leonard Williams and Bryon Murphy II.

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