After signing with the Seahawks in free agency last spring, Uchenna Nwosu said he hoped his role in Seattle's defense would allow him "to unlock his true potential."
And in his first season with the Seahawks, Nwosu indeed unlocked his potential on his way to the best season of his five-year career, recording 9.5 sacks to tie for the team lead, as well as a team-high 26 quarterback hits, which ranked ninth in the league, 12 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and four passes defensed.
Following a season in which Nwosu helped lead the defense while being named a Pro-Bowl alternate, the Seahawks made sure the outside linebacker would be a part of their long term future, signing the former second-round pick to a three-year contract extension Monday, just before the start of training camp.
In addition to having a highly-productive first season with the Seahawks, Nwosu also developed as a leader on a young Seahawks defense.
"It's not what he says, it's what he does," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said last season. "He's been an obvious leader and a real tough guy in all situations. The guys love him and they respect the heck out of him. He was just immediately one of those guys—you've got to see if he's for real, and he is—and then you go, 'Oh man, we're lucky to have him on our side. You love competing with him.'"
In Nwosu and Darrell Taylor, who also had 9.5 sacks, the Seahawks are hoping to have a formidable pass rush that will also include outside linebackers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall—second-round picks in each of the past two drafts—as well as defensive ends Dre'Mont Jones and Jarran Reed, both of whom signed as free agents this offseason.
Nwosu's talents and football savvy led to Carroll and defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt giving him the freedom to freelance, within some parameters, to highlight his playmaking ability, something Carroll only allows from certain players who know when to take those calculated risks without hurting the defense.
"He has a really good sense for the game," Carroll said. "He's a ball player. The thing I started to do as soon we started to realize that is free him up: 'Take the liberties, you have the liberties to go.' It's not everybody we've coached like that—some guys you do, some guys you don't. You're going to hold him back if you don't, that's what I felt."
And now with a contract extension finalized, Nwosu can continue making plays in Seattle's defense for years to come.
Take a look back at some of the best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
The best photos of Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu from the 2022 season.
