THE GIANTS WERE ALMOST THE SEAHAWKS' 2026 OPENER AND NOBODY IN THE LEAGUE IS READY FOR IT

Alright, 12s, buckle up because the NFL just dropped a bombshell about our 2026 season opener! We all knew the Seahawks were hosting a Super Bowl rematch against the Patriots to kick things off, but it turns out we nearly had a completely different, absolutely wild matchup to start the year. Forget everything you thought you knew, because before settling on New England, the league seriously considered pitting our Hawks against the New York freaking Giants in Week 1! Can you believe it?

The Secret Week 1 Rivalry We Almost Had

So, the NFL's VP of broadcast planning, Mike North, spilled the tea on "The Schrager Hour" this week. He revealed that the Giants were a "surprise third candidate" for Seattle's opening night game. North actually said, "We absolutely looked at the Giants," and "We talked about Giants-Seahawks for a minute." Why the Giants, you ask? Well, it would have been John Harbaugh's first game as their head coach, facing off against our own Mike Macdonald. Think about it: Macdonald coached under Harbaugh for nine seasons in Baltimore, including two as his defensive coordinator from 2022-23! That’s a storyline the NFL loves. Even though the Giants are coming off a tough 4-13 season, North and Peter Schrager both pointed out their track record of success at Lumen Field, with two wins since 2020. The league even liked the idea of getting that long trip out of the way for the Giants early, especially with the game moving to Wednesday, which gives the visiting team 11 days on the back end. Honestly, a Macdonald vs. Harbaugh grudge match to open the season? That would've been electric in the Emerald City!

Why We Got the Patriots Instead (and Why Not KC)

While the Giants were a spicy consideration, North ultimately confirmed it "kind of came down to Chicago and New England." The Bears were also a "trendy projection" and will actually travel to Seattle in Week 8. But the Patriots snagged that Week 1 slot. Why? North made it clear: "This was about the play on the field. These are two teams that went to the Super Bowl. They've earned this spotlight." He also knows "New England wants another shot at them" and "they feel like they can play better than they did in February." Putting the Patriots game in Week 1 keeps it a legitimate Super Bowl rematch. If it's in Week 8, as North put it, "then it's no longer a Super Bowl rematch. Now, it's 'here's what their seasons are this year.'" And for those wondering about the Chiefs, forget about it. Kansas City was "never really in consideration" for the opener. Chiefs owner Clark Hunt already said his team wouldn't play us in Week 1, and with Patrick Mahomes recovering from an ACL injury, North agreed it wasn't the "right use" for that early slot. That game is set for Sunday night in Week 7. So, while we're still getting the Patriots for our 2026 opener, it’s wild to think about the alternate universe where we kicked off the season with an intense coaching reunion against the Giants. It's going to be huge to see Sam Darnold under center, with guys like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp making plays when the Patriots come to Lumen Field. Get ready, 12s, the 2026 season is going to be something else!

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