Seahawks Dealt Strange Date For 2026 Season-Opener

The date for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks' 2026 season opener has been set. And it's a weird one.

Seattle will open the season on Wednesday, Sept. 2, instead of on Thursday, per The Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint. The NFL's first-ever game in Melbourne, Australia, between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will instead be played that Thursday, Sept. 3.

The strange scheduling is to uphold the NFL tradition that the previous year's Super Bowl champion will always play the very first game of the new season, and at home.

Since the NFL couldn't do a Friday game on opening week, per Flint, that moved the Seahawks' season opener all the way up to Wednesday to make space for the Melbourne game.

What Wednesday season opener means for Seahawks, NFL and Fans

Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

For Seahawks and NFL fans in general, this is a win. After months of no football, the opening week of the season will start early and have the games more spread out. Football has always been a sport that has to keep games to a few days a week due to player rest, but it will be an action-packed week.

It also means nobody has to get offended by the Rams and 49ers potentially playing before the Seahawks, especially after Seattle beat both teams in the playoffs en route to a Super Bowl LX victory.

The scheduling is a positive and a negative for the Seahawks, as they will get more rest for Week 2 by playing earlier. However, it also means head coach Mike Macdonald will have to create a unique plan for the opening week of the season.

Preparation will have to be expedited, which could be a bigger issue than getting rest after just one game. Teams are always rusty in Week 1, and an extremely short week could amplify that.

It really depends on when the Seahawks have their actual bye week and how many primetime games they are scheduled for early in the season versus late in the season. But at face value, a mini bye after Week 1 is a bit unnecessary, and the priority should be on getting a season-opening win.

Seattle's opponent for the season opener is yet to be determined. The full NFL schedule will be released in May.

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