Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba Named AP First-Team All-Pro

Jaxon Smith-Njigba just wrapped up one of the most impressive receiving seasons the NFL has ever seen, and the recognition matches the achievement.

The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver earned unanimous first-team All-Pro honors after leading the league with 1,793 receiving yards this season. He's only the second Seahawks receiver ever to earn first-team All-Pro status, joining Hall of Famer Steve Largent who did it in 1985.

What makes Smith-Njigba's accomplishment even more remarkable is how he did it. The Seahawks ran a run-heavy offense this year, attempting just 481 passes, the fourth fewest in the NFL.

Every other receiver ahead of him on the all-time single-season list played in offenses that threw at least 85 more passes. Five of those seven receivers had quarterbacks who threw more than 600 times.

Smith-Njigba caught 119 passes, both franchise records for yards and receptions. He was one of only three unanimous All-Pro selections this year, alongside Rams receiver Puka Nacua and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.

Four of his teammates earned second-team honors: linebacker Ernest Jones IV, defensive tackle Leonard Williams, cornerback Devon Witherspoon, and punter Michael Dickson. The five total selections matched a franchise record set by the 1984 and 2015 teams.

Despite the individual accolades, Smith-Njigba stayed focused on team goals. After clinching the NFC's top seed, he said earning the number one seed "was my goal since our first meeting."

The Ripple Effect

The Seahawks' five All-Pro selections reflect something bigger than individual talent. The team allowed the fewest points in the NFL this season while running one of the league's most balanced offenses.

Jones led the team with 126 tackles and five interceptions, becoming the only player in the league with at least 100 tackles and five picks. Williams tied for the team lead with seven sacks while anchoring a defense that held opponents to just 3.7 yards per carry, the best in the NFL.

Witherspoon earned his third straight Pro Bowl selection despite missing five games with a knee injury. Coach Mike Macdonald called him "the sparkplug" that makes the entire defense work.

This kind of recognition across offense, defense, and special teams shows a culture of excellence spreading through the entire organization. When five players from one team earn All-Pro honors, it signals something special is happening in Seattle.

Smith-Njigba becomes the Seahawks' first first-team All-Pro since linebacker Bobby Wagner in 2020, bringing the franchise's most prestigious individual honor back home where fans have been hoping to see it again.