The Seattle Seahawks, fresh off capturing Super Bowl LX, will learn the complete blueprint for their title defense on Thursday, May 14, when the NFL unveils the full 2026 regular-season schedule at 5 p.m. PT. The announcement will be broadcast across multiple television and streaming platforms that evening.
One key date is already locked in. As the reigning champions, the Seahawks earn the right to host the NFL Kickoff Game — a rare Wednesday night affair at Lumen Field on September 9, broadcast on NBC. Their opponent for that opener has not yet been revealed and will be disclosed with the rest of the schedule on May 14. The Wednesday start is being used because the following night, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will face each other in Melbourne, Australia in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game on that continent.
The Seahawks’ full opponent slate was determined by the league’s scheduling rotation following Seattle’s 13-3 finish atop the NFC West in 2025. Home games at Lumen Field will feature the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. On the road, Seattle will travel to face the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers.
Two of those road destinations could potentially involve international travel. The 49ers are set to host a game in Mexico City against an opponent yet to be named, and the Commanders are slated to host a London game — either of which could pull Seattle out of the country for one of those matchups, though the Seahawks have not been confirmed as a participant in either international game.
Single-game tickets for all 2026 Seattle home games go on sale at the time of the schedule announcement. An additional allotment of tickets priced at or below the NFL’s average goes on sale Tuesday, June 2 at 10 a.m. PT, limited to four per game and not eligible for resale.
Two Gamecocks in the Championship Core
For South Carolina football fans, the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run carried unmistakable Garnet and Black threads. Two University of South Carolina Gamecocks alumni are contributors on the roster heading into 2026.
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV, who played at South Carolina before entering the NFL, delivered one of the standout defensive performances of the championship run. Jones totaled six interceptions across the regular season and playoffs, highlighted by an 85-yard pick-six against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13 that earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He re-signed with the club in March 2025 on a three-year deal worth 33 million dollars with 15 million dollars guaranteed, cementing his place as a centerpiece of the defense for years to come.
Safety Nick Emmanwori, a native of Irmo, South Carolina who starred for the Gamecocks before being selected 35th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, built on a strong rookie campaign. Emmanwori finished with 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and an interception in 14 games — numbers that drew league-wide attention for a second-year player entering 2026 as part of the Super Bowl-winning secondary.
Panthers Trip Puts Charlotte-Area Fans in Sight Lines
Among the 2026 away games, the visit to the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte stands out for Upstate South Carolina fans. Bank of America Stadium sits roughly 75 miles from Spartanburg — well within the travel corridor served by Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP), which offers direct flights to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and makes a game weekend straightforward for day-trippers and overnight visitors alike.
The Panthers will host the defending champions for the second consecutive year, having also faced Seattle in 2025. The specific date and kickoff time for that matchup will be confirmed when the full schedule drops on May 14.
What’s Next
The full 17-game schedule — including dates, kickoff times and broadcast assignments for all 32 teams — arrives next Thursday evening. The league has indicated that select games may be announced by broadcast partners in the days leading up to May 14, so fans could get pieces of the puzzle before the full reveal. Single-game ticket information will be available at the team’s official website once the schedule is released.
