Week 13 was something of a homecoming for four current Seattle Seahawks. quarterback Geno Smith, safety Julian Love and defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Jonathan Hankins had one thing in common: They were all former New York Giants. Three were also former New York Jets.
For them, they are very familiar with what MetLife Stadium has become .
The biggest name on the list is, of course, Geno Smith, who was selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Smith spent three seasons in the Big Apple before an unsuccessful exit, which left him wandering the NFL journey backup desert. Smith spent one season with the Giants (starting one away game), then one with the Chargers before moving to the Seahawk beginning in 2019.
Leonard Williams was selected 6th overall by the Jets in the 2015 nfl Draft and spent the first five years of his career with Gang Green before being traded to the Giants. The first time in his career he actually had to go to Seattle when the Seahawks traded for him last season.
Julian Love became a Giant after being selected in the fourth round of the 2019 nfl Draft and finishing out his rookie contract with Big Blue. Before the 2023 season, the Seahawks signed him to a two-year contract, but quickly exceeded that and received a well-deserved contract this past offseason.
Jonathan Hankins moved the most on this list. He was originally a second-rounder with the Giants in 2013, where he played for three years. He went on to play with the Colts, Raiders and Cowboys before finally becoming a Seahawk this year.
In the Week 13 home game, these former New Yorkers thrived. Geno Smith had another solid performance, completing 64% of his passes for 206 yards and a touchdown, completing his 11th game-winning drive since the start of the 2022 season – .
Leonard Williams was an absolute terror and looked right at home in his original stadium. Williams had two sacks, an interception and a touchdown. His commitment by becoming the first player since 1982 (when sacks became an official statistic) to have multiple sacks, a pick-6, and a blocked kick on the same day. He also set the NFL record for longest pick-6 by a defensive lineman.
Julian Love had six total tackles and forced a fumble from running back Breece Hall. The Seahawks had just been stopped at the goal line on downs in a disappointing sequence, but Love stole the momentum back to Seattle when the fumble was recovered by rookie Tyrice Knight. The Seahawks were able to get the field goal they needed after this turn of events. Love also made a tackle for a stop on 2nd-and-10, keeping the Jets on 3rd-and-10 and setting up Leonard Williams for his second sack of the afternoon. This happened on New York's final drive of the game.
Jonathan Hankins may not have appeared on the scoresheet, but he was still part of a defense that posted a shutout over three full quarters of football, fueling Seattle's comeback. If the defense had shown any weaknesses after the 7:21 loss, the Seahawks would currently be 6:6.
