Double Joy After Dominant 13-3 Win Over 49ers: Seahawks' Future Hall of Fame OT Lands $104 Million Extension After Clinching No. 1 Seed

Seattle, Washington – January 5, 2026

The Seattle Seahawks left Levi’s Stadium with more than just a win. They carried home the most valuable advantage of the postseason — the NFC’s No. 1 seed — and just hours later, delivered a long-term statement to the rest of the NFL.

Following a commanding 13–3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks officially announced a four-year, $104 million contract extension for their cornerstone offensive lineman, Charles Cross. On a night that already felt complete, Seattle doubled down — securing both the present and the future in one move.

At just 25 years old, Cross became the highest-paid non-quarterback in franchise history, averaging $26.1 million per year. But inside the organization, this wasn’t viewed as a reward for one game — it was a declaration about the foundation of an era.

Against the 49ers, the Seahawks’ offensive line delivered one of its steadiest performances of the season. At left tackle, Cross quietly handled the league’s most demanding assignment: protecting the blind side of quarterback Sam Darnold against relentless pressure. No headlines. No flash. Just elite consistency.

Selected No. 9 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Cross has developed exactly as a franchise left tackle should. Across four seasons, he has missed only six games, starting every contest he’s been available — durability and reliability rarely found at the position. He closed the 2025–26 regular season with a 73.2 overall PFF grade, including 76.9 in pass protection and 66.7 as a run blocker, numbers that reflect substance over spectacle.

Yet what truly resonated across Seattle went beyond statistics.

Speaking publicly after the extension, Cross delivered a message that underscored why the Seahawks moved so decisively:

“My heart has always belonged to the Seahawks — that’s never been about a contract or a number. Even without this deal, I would still want to be here, protecting this jersey and fighting for this team every Sunday. Seattle isn’t just where I play — it’s the home I’m choosing for my entire career.”

With the No. 1 seed secured, Seattle now enters the playoffs with home-field advantage and quiet confidence. But locking in Cross reveals a vision that stretches well beyond January — one focused on sustained dominance, not fleeting success.

On the same night the Seahawks defeated a longtime rival and secured their playoff path, they also sent a clear message to the league:

Seattle isn’t just built to win now — it’s built to win for years to come.

And at the heart of that plan stands Charles Cross, doing what he’s done all season long — holding the line.