Leonard Williams walked in with, and was holding, the evidence of how the Seahawks and Seattle have transformed his life.
Williams grew up in Dayton Beach, Florida, “grew up, you know, homeless, at times. I grew up living in, in and out of hotels, motels — and, you know, kind of an unstable lifestyle as a young kid,” the 32-year-old Pro Bowl defensive lineman said last year.
Williams had just signed his three-year, $90 million extension with $56 million guaranteed to him Thursday. It keeps him under contract with the defending Super Bowl champions through 2029.
He was walking the team’s indoor practice field into a press conference Thursday. His wife Hailey, whom he married last year before he second full season with the Seahawks, walked with him. She pushed a stroller. He held their five-month-old son, Zion.
They were a short drive from the home they own in the hills above Seahawks headquarters, in Seattle’s eastern suburbs.
Yes, the 12th-year veteran who was contemplating retiring from the NFL until his trade out of New York to Seattle absolutely appreciates how his new city, his new team, has given him a new life.
“Yeah, it’s transformed me a lot,” Williams said, as Zion reached to play with the fuzzy-cover on the podium microphone in front of them. “I’ve had an up-and-down career. I’ve had an up-and-down life outside of football, as well.
“Since I’ve come here, I’ve just been more grounded. More locked-in with the team. More locked-in with my life outside of football.
“It’s just made me a better person, on the field and off the field.”
He looked down at his baby boy.
“I attribute that to the organization, from the top down,” WIlliams said. “It’s very family-oriented here. It really makes me focus on football. The city, the fan base, it’s just a perfect storm, just curating a perfect environment here. And it allows people to succeed in this type of environment.”
Leonard Williams holding his son Zion moments after the 32-year-old NFL Pro Bowl defensive lineman signed a three-year, $90 million contract extension with his Seattle Seahawks Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, at the team’s Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton. Gregg Bell/The News TribuneWilliams has more than succeeded since arriving from the Giants in a trade during the 2023 season. He’s thrived in Seattle.
He’s been selected to the Pro Bowl in both of his Seahawks seasons. They’ve been his first such honors since his only other selection in 2016. That was his second season with the Jets, who drafted him sixth overall 11 years ago.
After two playoff games in his first 11 NFL years, Williams last season played in his first Super Bowl. He now has his first Super Bowl ring as a champion.
“Some of my best ball has been played here. Some of my best relationships have been made here,” Williams said.
“I feel like Seattle’s changed my life. It’s changed my career. It means a lot to be able to finish that here.”
He’s indispensable to Mike Macdonald’s top-ranked defense, and to the culture the first-time head coach has built inside the Seahawks locker room in two years.
That’s why Macdonald, general manager John Schneider and the Seahawks have re-invested the fifth-highest average annual salary for an NFL interior defensive lineman on a player who will be past his 35th birthday when this new contract ends. Williams is tied with former Washington Huskies standout Vita Vea behind Jalen Carter ($38 million per year), Quinnen Williams ($35.3 million per), Jeffery Simmons ($35.3 million) and Chris Jones ($31.75 million).
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) runs out to cheering fans during training camp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Training Center, on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Renton, Wash. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com“(He’s one) of the best in the world,” Macdonald said of Williams before the team flew to Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday afternoon for its preseason finale at the Chiefs Friday. “His production is high, but it’s also a synergistic thing the way he sets up other players, as well, both in the run and pass (defense).
“Let alone how he interacts, how he builds up the whole team on a day-to-day basis, too.
“Again, I think it’s a great deal for both sides. He’s earned it. And we’re excited to make it happen.”
Schematically, on the field, Macdonald calls Williams “a force that you have to account for. That takes (an offense’s) resources towards him, and he can win those matchups. And when you allocate resources one way you can’t allocate them another way. And now our other guys have opportunities.
“We play better defense with him, for sure.”
Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams hoists the the Lombardi Trophy during the team’s Trophy Celebration event at Lumen Field on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, in Seattle. Liesbeth Powers/Liesbeth Powers / lpowers@thenewstribune.comOff the field, the head coach calls Williams “a great teammate.”
“Every day, the same guy,” Macdonald said. “Positive outlook. Talk about ‘warriors in the garden,’ who we want to be as people, and he’s that.
“That’s who he is.”
How much longer does Williams want to play?
“It’s definitely a minimum three years,” he said, smiling at knowing that matches the length of his new deal.
“I’ll take it contract by contract.”
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) cheers back to fans as he walks into the tunnel after warm ups prior to the start of Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif. Brian Hayes/bhayes@thenewstribune.com
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