Week 13 was a bit of a homecoming for four current Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Geno Smith, safety Julian Love, and defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Jonathan Hankins all had one thing in common: all were former New York Giants. Three were also former New York Jets.
To them, they are intimately familiar with MetLife Stadium, which has become a true home away from home for the Seahawks.
Of course, the biggest name on the list is Geno Smith, who was selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft. Smith spent three seasons in the Big Apple before infamously flaming out, causing him to wander the desert of being an NFL journeyman backup. Smith spent a season with the Giants (starting one game on the road), then one with the Chargers before becoming a Seahawk starting in 2019 to present.
Leonard Williams was taken No. 6 overall by the Jets during the 2015 NFL draft and spent the first five years of his career with Gang Green, before being traded to the Giants. The first time he actually had to move in his career was to Seattle, when the Seahawks traded for him last season.
Julian Love became a Giant after being taken in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft and spent his rookie contract with Big Blue. Prior to the 2023 season, the Seahawks signed him to a two-year deal, but quickly outplayed it and earned a well-deserved three-year extension this past offseason.
Jonathan Hankins has moved around the most on this list. He originally was a second rounder for the Giants in 2013 where he played for three years. He then played with the Colts, Raiders and Cowboys before ultimately becoming a Seahawk this year.
In the Week 13 homecoming game, these former New Yorkers thrived. Geno Smith had another solid performance, completing 64% of his passes for 206 yards and a touchdown, as he engineered his 11th game-winning drive since the start of the 2022 season – the most in the league during this span.
Leonard Williams was an absolute terror, and felt right at home back in his original stadium. Williams had two sacks, an interception and a touchdown. His effort on Sunday made history by becoming the first player since 1982 (when sacks became an official stat) to have multiple sacks, a pick-6, and a blocked kick in the same day. He also set the NFL record for longest pick-6 by a defensive lineman.
Julian Love had six total tackles, and forced a fumble from running back Breece Hall. The Seahawks had just been stopped on downs at the goal line in a disappointing sequence, but Love stole momentum right back to Seattle, as the fumble was recovered by rookie Tyrice Knight. The Seahawks were able to score a needed field goal after that turn of events. Love also created a stop on 2nd-and-10 with a tackle, keeping the Jets at 3rd-and-10, setting up Leonard Williams to get his second sack of the afternoon. This was on New York’s final drive of the game.
Jonathan Hankins may not have shown up on the score sheet, but he was still a member of a defense that pitched a shutout over three full quarters of football, fueling the comeback for Seattle. Had the defense shown any cracks after going down 21-7, the Seahawks would be sitting at 6-6 right now.
