The Seattle Seahawks were plagued with more drama today. Head Coach Mike Macdonald informed the media today that one of their key starters had decided to suddenly retire. It is extremely uncommon for a player in the NFL to suddenly retire in the middle of a season, especially someone in the starting lineup.
Seattle got off to a fast start this season and looked to be well on their way to being a playoff contender. Macdonald is in his first year as the Seahawks head coach, coming over from Baltimore where he served as the defensive coordinator for John Harbaugh. Quarterback Geno Smith has had an up and down season, a lot of his struggles have stemmed from the offensive line’s inability to give him consistent protection. Smith has been under pressure for most of the season but continues to keep Seattle’s hope for the playoffs alive.
Seahawks Starter Retires Mid-Season
Seattle was dealt yet another blow this week when starting center Connor Williams decided to retire. This was Williams’ first year playing in Seattle, after playing for the Miami Dolphins the last two seasons. The former Texas Longhorn was drafted in 2018 to the Dallas Cowboys in the second round. Williams worked hard to overcome a significant knee injury he suffered last year, cutting his 2023 season with the Dolphins short. The former second round pick would only play in nine games his final here in Miami, before signing a one-year deal with the Seahawks.
Though his mid-season retirement has come as a shock to many. Coach Macdonald told reporters that Williams was retiring for personal reasons. Macdonald went on to say that the Seahawks organization would respect Williams wishes and not being giving out any further information as to why the 27-year-old would be retiring so suddenly. The Seattle head coach would be asked by reporters if he expected Williams back at a later point of the season, Macdonald seemed very certain that this retirement was final, and Connor Williams would not be returning at any point to play for the Seahawks.
Who Takes Williams Place
Seattle will be starting second year pro Olu Oluwatimi in place of the recently retired Williams. Oluwatimi was a fifth round pick out of Michigan in 2023. Macdonald stated that he has been working very hard, and he believes Oluwatimi will be able to handle taking over the starting job. The former Wolverine started one game and appeared in 16 during his rookie year with the team.
The center and quarterback need some form of chemistry. Not only for a smooth snap exchange but to be able to read and adjust protections based upon what the defense is showing. Smith is a veteran quarterback which could help make this transition run a bit more smoothly but don’t be surprised if it takes a couple of weeks for the tandem to get their groove. The Seahawks have struggled on the offensive line all year, allowing Geno Smith to be sacked 28 times, which is fourth most in the NFL. This sudden retirement of Williams isn’t going to make life any easier for the Seattle offense.
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