Seattle agreed to a three-year, $42 million contract extension with fourth-year outside linebacker Derick Hall earlier this month after he emerged as a key contributor on the Seahawks’ top-ranked scoring defense and a playmaker in their Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots.
Hall’s physical style attracted attention as early as the 2024 preseason. On a second-down run against Tennessee he ignored a conventional edge set, lowered his shoulder, knocked a tight end and a pulling guard out of the play and stopped the ball carrier for no gain — a clip the team still shows in meetings and one coach Mike Macdonald cited as emblematic of how he wants the defense to play.
The Seahawks opted to keep Hall rather than match free-agent offers for Boye Mafe, who signed a three-year, $60 million deal with Cincinnati. Seattle added veteran pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. on a one-year, $2.5 million contract to supplement edge rush ability while prioritizing Hall’s rugged, two-way play that includes run stopping and pass rush duties.
A second-round pick in 2023, Hall increased his production in 2024. He finished with eight sacks that year and, as part of a four-man rotation with DeMarcus Lawrence, Mafe and Uchenna Nwosu, posted a 10.3% pressure rate that ranked 32nd among all defenders, according to ESPN Research. He also missed two games with an oblique strain and sat one after a suspension following an incident with Los Angeles Rams guard Kevin Dotson in Week 16.
Hall’s pressure translated in the postseason: he had two sacks in the Super Bowl, including one that forced a fumble recovered by Seattle. Teammates and coaches have highlighted his strength, motor and violent playing style, and the organization publicly supported him during the regular season when general manager John Schneider wore Hall’s No. 58 jersey to a game while Hall watched from home.
