Undrafted Safety D'Anthony Bell Is Back and Our Super Bowl Repeat Could Depend On Him!

Alright, 12s, listen up! We're coming off a Super Bowl win, right? And you know what that means: target on our backs. Repeating as champs is *always* the goal, but we gotta admit, losing some key defensive players like Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen is a gut punch. So, how do we keep that league-leading 2025 scoring defense humming? Well, get ready, because an old, familiar face is back in the Emerald City: D'Anthony Bell. And Michael Hanich from SI on Seahawks is straight up saying this dude could be the upgrade we need. Yeah, *that* D'Anthony Bell!

From Waived to Worth It? Bell's Wild Journey

Man, Bell's journey last year was a true rollercoaster. He started out with us last summer, couldn't quite stick on the initial roster. But our squad brought him back on the practice squad in 2025. He got elevated three times, eventually signed to the active roster, and even *started twice* for our league-leading D! Talk about fighting for it. Then, BAM, December 30, we waived him. Carolina swooped in two days later, but get this: he barely saw the field for them, only dressed for one game. After the postseason, Carolina waived him too, and guess what? Our guy found his way back home, signing an offseason contract with us in March. The dude wants to be here, and we need him. Last season, he dressed for 14 games, started 2, pulling 96 defensive snaps and a massive 251 on special teams. That's hustle right there.

Why Hanich Says Bell Can Ball Out

So, why is everyone buzzing about Bell now? Michael Hanich pointed out that Bell "has the attributes of being a more productive playmaker if given the chance to be on the field." We all saw him as an efficient special teams player, but Hanich called him an "underrated raw project." Carolina knew it too, scooping him up on waivers. Hanich thinks Bell's best role is backing up Ty Okada at strong safety, and he could totally rock it in multiple safety formations. His experience and physicality? That's his ticket to making a big impact this season. Remember his time with the Cleveland Browns back in 2023? He started a career-high four games, racking up 28 combined tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass defenses, and two interceptions in 17 games for a Browns defense that led the NFL in fewest yards allowed. Last year with us, he had 15 combined tackles, one tackle for loss, a QB hit, and 0.5 sacks. He knows how to be part of an elite defense. The guy has been active for at least 14 games in all four of his NFL seasons. That's consistency!

Earning That Helmet: Bell's Uphill Climb

Look, it's not a free pass for Bell. Our front office has been busy. We snagged safety Bud Clark in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft and signed veteran Rodney Thomas II in free agency. Bell's gonna have to *earn* his snaps, no doubt about it. But with his history, his grit, and Hanich's belief, you gotta feel good about his chances. We need that depth, we need that playmaking, and if Bell can step up like Hanich suggests, that's a massive win for our defense. This isn't just about filling a roster spot, folks. This is about defending the Super Bowl title at Lumen Field. This is about maintaining that defensive dominance we saw last year. We're watching who's emerging, who's stepping up. Bell's journey back to Seattle is exactly the kind of story that gets the 12s fired up. Can he outplay the competition and become that crucial piece of our defense? You bet your bottom dollar we'll be watching every single snap, cheering him on. Go Hawks!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.