Illinois Outside Linebacker Signs With Seattle Seahawks as Undrafted Free Agent

Former Illini linebacker Seth Coleman inked a free-agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday

Aug 29, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Eastern Illinois Panthers offensive lineman Matthew Allen (68) and Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Seth Coleman (9) vie for a loose ball during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Going undrafted in the NFL doesn’t necessarily mean the end of a football player's journey. Just ask former Illinois linebacker Seth Coleman, who is getting his shot in the pros after signing with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent Saturday.

Headed to the @Seahawks pic.twitter.com/zTcncXChMN

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) April 27, 2025

Coleman, a 6-foot-5, 250 pound linebacker originally from Melbourne, Florida, played 56 games over the span of five years with the Illini. A starter until he was slowed by injury last season, he totaled 183 tackles, 15.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his time in Champaign and was a key piece of the turnaround in the Illini's 10-win season.

Although he wasn't selected in last weekend's NFL Draft, Coleman was able to take agency over where he landed in the league by signing as a free agent – which can make the difference between a favorabl situation that launches a career and one that leads a dead end.

Coleman still faces long odds to make the team and build a long career in the pros, but plenty of players – quarteback Kurt Warner and linebacker James Harrison, to name a couple – have gone on to all-time-great careers after going undrafted.

We’re going to try a new weekly segment called TFP’s Sneaky Good Play of the Week.

For Week 1, watch Seth Coleman play this jet sweep perfectly. He maintains outside leverage until the ballcarrier cuts back inside and then sheds his blocker and makes the tackle. Exactly what you… pic.twitter.com/eavzFZ8DrU

— The Field Pass (@TheFieldPass) September 5, 2024

If Coleman is able to impress the Seahawks' coaching staff, he could be an ideal fit for coach Mike MacDonald's defense. Seattle deploys a 3-4 scheme – same as the Illini – and will need an abundance of hybrid edge rushers to succeed with the strategy. Coleman is a big-bodied linebacker who showed at the college level that he can hold the edge against the run and contribute as a pass rusher.

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