The Seattle Seahawks are entering a new era, but it is always a challenge for the team to determine how much respect to show to prior heroes. Seattle’s most recent announcement has some supporters questioning the team’s judgment.
The Legion of Boom era is over, but fans still have fond memories of it, which culminated in back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013 and 2014. The Seahawks released new numbers for their rookies, and one shirt stood out.
New quarterback Jalen Milroe will wear No. 6, which is not a controversial decision. The Seahawks revealed that second-round pick Nick Emmanwori will wear No. 3, the former jersey number of star quarterback Russell Wilson. Some fans took to social media to express their frustration.
“This just does the look right,” one fan remarked.
“Yall wrong for giving him that number,” another added.
“This is gonna go over well… ,” said one person.
“Yikes,” a fan added.
“Nobody should be wearing 3,” said another fan.
“3 should be off limits man,” added another.
Nick Emmanwori on Russell Wilson: ‘He Did a Lot for This Organization’
Emmanwori defended his choice to wear the iconic No. 3 jersey, expressing admiration for quarterback Russell Wilson. Although he initially wanted No. 7, that number is currently taken by pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu.
“He did a lot for this organization,” Emmanwori said of Wilson on May 2, 2025, according to NFL.com’s Grant Gordon. “He gave everything he had. So now, I’m going to give everything I have in this number and try to make it meaningful on defense in my own way.”
The rookie explained how he ended up with No. 3, noting that he wanted a single-digit number and had a personal connection to Wilson, one of his childhood favorites.
“I was mainly looking for a single-digit jersey,” Emmanwori said. “(No.) 7 wasn’t available, so I picked the next number that had significance to me. Russell Wilson was one of my favorite quarterbacks growing up, especially during those Legion of Boom days. He deserves respect.”
Nick Emmanwori Is Drawing Comparisons to Seahawks Legend Kam Chancellor
Seattle clearly believes strongly in their rookie defender. The Seahawks traded up 17 spots in the second round to secure Emmanwori with the 52nd overall pick.
The former South Carolina Gamecock made waves at the NFL Combine by running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash. Leading up to the draft, NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein likened Emmanwori to Jeremy Chinn and graded him as a first-round talent.
“Depending on which games you watch, your evaluation of Emmanwori’s film may vary,” Zierlein noted in his scouting report. “He’s a rare physical talent with impressive size and elite speed, though he doesn’t always show a quick-trigger mindset in run defense. When he’s fully engaged, he becomes a far more effective tackler and excels as a sideline-to-sideline run stopper.
“He can line up deep, play in the box, or cover athletic tight ends. While his coverage transitions can be a bit stiff, he compensates with excellent recovery speed and long reach, disrupting passes at the catch point. With his uncommon traits, improved urgency could elevate him from solid starter to Pro Bowl-level defender.”
Emmanwori’s skill set and physical attributes have already sparked comparisons to Seahawks great Kam Chancellor. At 6’3″ and 220 pounds, his imposing frame, speed, and aggressive style are sure to remind fans of the former All-Pro safety.