When the Seattle Seahawks captured their recent Super Bowl title, much of the spotlight fell on explosive offense and clutch defensive stands. But inside league circles, another story quietly gained traction: special teams were the hidden engine behind their championship run — especially in pivotal victories over the Los Angeles Rams.
Field position swung games. Coverage units flipped momentum. Kicking precision sealed outcomes. In matchups where margins were razor thin, special teams made the decisive difference.
The irony? Rams head coach Sean McVay has long been regarded as one of football’s brightest offensive minds — but not necessarily someone who prioritizes special teams. That imbalance appeared costly in both losses to Seattle, reinforcing an age-old football truth: championships are often decided in the third phase of the game.
That lesson now echoes beyond the NFL and into college football — specifically within the Washington Huskies program under head coach Jedd Fisch.
The Offensive Mindset Pattern
Fisch, like McVay, is widely respected for his offensive acumen. His background centers on quarterback development, scheme design, and aggressive play-calling. He has followed a familiar model: oversee the offense personally while delegating defense to experienced coordinators.
It’s a structure that has produced stability. Fisch’s last three defensive coordinators have brought professionalism and tactical strength to that side of the ball. The Huskies are rarely disorganized defensively.
But stability is not the same as greatness.
NFL analyst Mike Sando has previously pointed out a recurring trend in the league: teams led by play-calling offensive head coaches — including the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers — frequently rank near the bottom in special teams metrics.
The theory is simple. When the head coach’s primary focus is offensive design, special teams can become a secondary priority rather than a foundational pillar.
History supports the concern. Even during the successful tenure of Mike Holmgren in Seattle, the Seahawks often struggled in special teams efficiency. Explosive offenses masked hidden weaknesses — until they couldn’t.
A Recurring Theme in Washington
For Washington fans, the issue feels familiar.
Under Rick Neuheisel, the Huskies emphasized offensive creativity. Under Steve Sarkisian, quarterback development and play design took center stage. Now, under Fisch, the offensive identity remains strong.
Yet in each era, special teams inconsistency has surfaced at critical moments.
The Huskies’ loss to Wisconsin in 2025? Special teams breakdowns played a major role. The 2024 defeat to Rutgers? Again, hidden yardage and field-position miscues proved costly.
These are not merely isolated mistakes. They are systemic indicators.
In modern football, where analytics dominate and margins shrink yearly, hidden yardage is often the difference between 10 wins and championship contention.
The Mike Macdonald Contrast
Contrast that with coaches like Mike Macdonald, who emphasize special teams as an integrated part of the overall strategy. For them, it is not a separate unit but an extension of offensive and defensive philosophy.
When special teams are coached with urgency — practiced with starters, prioritized in meetings, evaluated with the same intensity as red-zone efficiency — the ripple effects show up in win probability.
Seattle’s Super Bowl run reinforced that reality. Field position wins games. Blocked kicks change seasons. Return touchdowns reshape playoff brackets.
High Floor, Low Ceiling?
This brings us back to Fisch.
There is little evidence that Washington will collapse under his leadership. The 2024 season showed competence, organization, and resilience. The team did not suffer catastrophic defeats. Recruiting pipelines remain functional. The program appears stable.
But stability is not the same as elite championship breakthrough.
A “high-floor, low-ceiling” label is not an insult — it is a strategic observation. Programs led by offensive architects often produce competitive seasons. But without total-phase emphasis, the leap from good to great can remain elusive.
Football is not simply about scoring more points. It is about maximizing every possession — including the ones that begin with a kickoff or punt.
The Championship Question
The Huskies do not lack talent. They do not lack infrastructure. They do not lack ambition.
What they may lack — at least according to critics — is a philosophical commitment to the overlooked third phase of the game.
If Fisch elevates special teams from supporting cast to core priority, Washington could unlock another level. If not, the program risks repeating a familiar pattern: strong seasons that stop short of national significance.
The lesson from Seattle’s Super Bowl victory is clear. Special teams are not decorative. They are decisive.
Until Washington fully embraces that reality, questions about its ultimate ceiling will remain.
In football, greatness is rarely about what you emphasize. It is about what you refuse to ignore.
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