Report: Seahawks bringing back former first-round pick Bruce Irvin
Mar 18, 2020, 2:50 PM | Updated: 3:16 pm
The Seahawks are reportedly bringing Bruce Irvin back to Seattle. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks have added another player from who played elsewhere in 2019 in free agency, this time, a very familiar face: Bruce Irvin.
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Per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Irvin and Seattle agreed to a reunion Wednesday afternoon.
It’s a reunion type of day: The #Seahawks are bringing back old friend and DE Bruce Irvin, source said. The former first-round draft pick heads home to Seattle.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2020
Irvin seemingly confirmed the signing as well. Safe to say he’s happy.
IM SO HAPPY TO BE GOING HOME!!!! 12’s I love you!
— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) March 18, 2020
Irvin, 32, was drafted 15th overall by the Seahawks in the 2012 NFL Draft. That was the same draft that Seattle selected franchise cornerstones Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner in the third and second rounds, respectively.
Irvin played both defensive end and outside linebacker during his time in Seattle, with his best season in terms of sacks coming his rookie year when he had 8 sacks.
After four years in Seattle, Irvin signed with the Oakland Raiders, where he played for defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr., who was the linebacker coach for the Seahawks for most of Irvin’s tenure. Now, Norton is the defensive coordinator of the Seahawks, and Irvin will return to, presumably, rush the passer.
After playing mostly outside linebacker during his time with the Seahawks, Irvin has mostly been focused on rushing the passer for the Raiders, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. That’s good for the Seahawks, who need to improve one of the worst pass rush units from 2019 into 2020.
Seattle had just 28 sacks during the regular season, and were one of four teams with fewer than 30. Additionally, second-year player Rasheem Green led the team with 4 sacks during the regular season. Irvin, meanwhile, totaled 8.5 sacks for the Panthers last season.
It appeared that a reunion between the Seahawks and Irvin was likely, especially as Irvin hinted strongly on social media that he was open to coming back to the team that gave him his start in the NFL.
Irvin and defensive tackle Jarran Reed are the only two moves the Seahawks have made on the defensive line during free agency thus far, and they could still be working hard to secure Jadeveon Clowney to pair with Irvin, Reed and company in 2020.
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