Drake Thomas an unlikely hero in Seahawks’ landmark win

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas began this season as an undersized backup who saw most of his action on special teams.

Before long, he’d worked his way into the starting lineup and emerged as an unsung hero on one of the NFL’s top defenses.

And on Saturday night, with the Seahawks playing on their biggest stage in years, he delivered perhaps the most pivotal play of Seattle’s division-clinching 13-3 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Seahawks beat 49ers | Instant Reaction | Box score

With 10 1/2 minutes left in a winner-take-all showdown for the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the 49ers had driven into the red zone for the first time all night and were threatening to cut into Seattle’s 10-point lead.

Facing a second-and-goal from the 6-yard line, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy tried to hit star running back Christian McCaffrey in the flat. However, Seahawks edge rusher Boye Mafe tipped Purdy’s pass, slightly altering the trajectory. McCaffrey reached down and tried to corral it, but he ended up bobbling the ball into the air.

Thomas seized the opportunity, showing lightning-quick reflexes to snatch it away for his first career interception.

In doing so, the 5-foot-11, 228-pound linebacker essentially extinguished San Francisco’s hopes and helped seal a massive victory that gave Seattle the NFC West crown, a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

“I think it’s a ball finds energy type of thing,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “I mean, Drake’s been playing great football for us and he deserves a massive shout-out. He made a great play.”

Red zone takeaway by Drake Thomas and the Seahawks!

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— NFL (@NFL) January 4, 2026

It was one of many big plays this season from Thomas, who initially signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State. After he was waived by Las Vegas during 2023 roster cutdowns, Seattle claimed him off waivers.

Thomas played just 41 defensive snaps over his first two seasons with the Seahawks before taking over Tyrice Knight’s starting role in late September.

From there, he never looked back.

Thomas finished with 96 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups in 17 games this season. That makes him the only player in the NFL with three-plus sacks, 10-plus tackles for loss and eight-plus pass breakups, according to Stathead.

“The consistency, the hard work that he’s put in and the way he’s challenged everybody in that (linebacker) room to get better, it’s been great,” Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “I’m happy for Drake.”

More on Seattle Seahawks’ win

• Wyman: Seattle Seahawks earn a ‘dominant win’ over 49ers
• Stacy Rost: Hawks show their fatal flaw may not matter
• Seahawks’ season-long commitment to run game pays off in massive win
• 49ers’ offense goes silent against suffocating Seattle Seahawks defense
• The five biggest plays that delivered Seattle Seahawks’ win over 49ers

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