Seahawks Rookie Emmanwori Has Historic Game Vs. Falcons

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 07: Nick Emmanwori #3 of the Seattle Seahawks upends Tyler Allgeier #25 of the Atlanta Falcons during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

In a season loaded with great storylines, Seattle Seahawks rookie Nick Emmanwori might be the best story of them all.

The first-year safety has quickly acclimated to the NFL, and it seems like he is just scratching the surface of his potential.

Emmanwori’s upside flashed in the Seahawks’ 37-9 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. He was all over the field, and when the game was over, he had a sack, an interception, and six tackles.

But there is more than meets the eye about his performance. When you look at the full scope of Emmanwori’s game, it becomes even more impressive. And even more unlikely to happen again.

Nick Emmanwori Puts Up Historic Stat Line

Nick Emmanwori didn’t just have a good game against the Falcons. He had a historic one.

It is hard to play much better than that!

In total, Emmanwori had six tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, one interception, one pass defensed, and a blocked kick.

That is rarified air when it comes to NFL defensive statistics. And as rare as it is, Emmanwori can compare his game against Atlanta to his teammate Leonard Williams‘ game against the New York Jets in 2024.

But getting back to Emmanwori, it is clear that his athleticism and knowledge of the game are translating into massive production.

He diagnosed an inside run perfectly on his second tackle for loss, and his sack was a result of correctly timing the snap and finding a gap in the line to take down Cousins. Those plays show his football understanding.

Emmanwori’s football knowledge was one aspect of his great game in Atlanta. His athleticism and size helped him have a historic game.

There was no better example of Nick Emmanwori’s God-given abilities than his blocked field goal in the second quarter of the Seahawks-Falcons game.

Sure, he had to time the snap, but blocking a field goal like that requires next-level athleticism. He looked like a cheetah as he flew off the edge to block the kick. An average NFL defensive back is not doing anything like that.

That is why Emmanwori is so special, and why he has a chance to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald knows exactly how to deploy him, and it also helps that he is surrounded by a great group of players on defense.

It turns out that being the best athlete in the history of the NFL Combine helps out on Sundays. With a combine like that, it is wild that he lasted until the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Can Emmanwori Win Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Is Nick Emmanwori capable of taking home some hardware this offseason?

He certainly has a chance.

Right now, Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger is the favorite, but Emmanwori is second among most major sportsbooks.

While Schwesinger has been awesome, Emmanwori playing on a contender like the Seahawks should help his case.

Seattle’s final four games of the regular season are all against winning teams, including two NFC West showdowns. That visibility paired with Emmanwori’s great play could help him win the award.

Mark Harris Mark Harris is a sportswriter at Heavy. He graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in sports journalism and has spent the last seven years in sports media. Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with family, hiking, skiing, and watching sports. You can find Mark on Twitter/X at @Harris_Mark7. More about Mark Harris