Seahawks are down to 4 possible opponents for Week 1 opener

The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will open the 2026 regular season on Wednesday, September 9 at Lumen Stadium. The NFL will be releasing the 2026 schedule for every team on Thursday at 5 p.m. PST.

Official team accounts and broadcast partners have been slowly releasing certain games before the reveal of the entire schedule. Unfortunately, that doesn't include the Seahawks' Week 1 opponent. The process of elimination has the Seahawks down to four Week 1 possibilities, however.

For example, the Kansas City Chiefs will face the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 1. That eliminates the Chiefs as a possible opponent for Seattle in Week 1. Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune has narrowed down the Seahawks' potential opening opponent to the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Chargers.

The Bears would make for a fun opponent. Ben Johnson's and Caleb Williams' Bears have established themselves as contenders. The Cardinals are a divisional foe, but their rebuilding roster would possibly make for a lopsided Week 1.

The Chargers would be fun as a non-common opponent, with Justin Herbert at quarterback and Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. The Patriots would probably be the most logical choice in a Super Bowl LX rematch.