CHICAGO-- Sunday was sort of a homecoming for safety Julian Love who grew up in Westchester, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago and because of that, he had a lot of people cheering for him in Thursday's win.
"A lot of family, a lot of friends, former coaches," Love said.
Before Thursday's game, throughout his NFL career, Love had played at Soldier Field three times previously with the New York Giants, all of those games ended in a loss, but tonight was a bit different.
"That's great. I love playing here. I feel like I always play well here but just never got the win," Love said. "That was a former time though. I'm a Seahawk and I only get wins in here."
And Love was right, the four times, including Thursday's performance were all memorable games. In 2019, his rookie season, Love came up with an interception that he returned for 30 yards and a pass defensed. In 2020, he had five tackles, an interception and a pass defensed. And in Thursday's game, although he didn't come up with an interception, he passed a career milestone, notching 100 tackles on the season for the third consecutive year.
"That's exciting, 100 tackles," Love said. "That's something I really hang my head on. Since I was a young kid, I felt like tackling was, to be a defensive player, just part of the game. I don't think it is appreciated as much as it should [be] but I'm extremely proud of that, especially my changing roles, week to week to be able to do that consecutively, I'm proud of it."
The defense as a whole was productive, coming up with 7.0 sacks collectively, 54 tackles, and an interception.
"Everyone was just locked in," Love said on the defensive performance. "And everyone was balling and there's such a confidence going on there."
Love added, "We were having fun. I don't know if it was the rain, the temperature, the weather. It was like playing backyard football. I felt like everyone was connected with communicating well, we were just running and hitting."
Must-see shots of the Seahawks at their Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) and Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Kenny McIntosh (25) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48), Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99), and Seahawks free safety Julian Love (20) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks guard Sataoa Laumea (63) and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (10) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks players at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90) at the Week 17 matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
