Barner had a good 2025 season, but he has eyes on something even better in 2026.
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner announced himself to the league last season as a key cog in Klint Kubiak's offense.
Barner, in his second NFL season, posted 519 yards and 6 TDs from 52 receptions, all easily above what he produced in his rookie season.
Not only that, but AJ was dependable in the postseason, catching six of his seven targets for 67 yards and a touchdown, with 54 of those yards and the touchdown coming in the Super Bowl.
So Barner was at his best when the pressure was at its highest, and that is what you want from every player, and for a second-year tight end to come through like that, Seattle likely feels it has a gem on its hands.
But now that Barner has climbed to the NFL's mountaintop, the work is only half done; now he and the team have to work even harder to stay there.
Coming off a season where he accomplished so much, it can be a little tough to set goals because you have already achieved everything with that Super Bowl ring.
But does Barner feel like he can take his game to another level?
"Definitely better, way better,” Barner said. “I expect myself to be one of the best tight ends in the league, and I think I've played up to that standard, not consistently maybe throughout the whole season, but definitely [I] have done that.
"So, I hold myself to a high standard, and the goal is to win championships and play in big games and also bring that same mindset to training camp when I'm back out there with the guys. Like, that's how I'm feeling. So yeah, I think I can take it to a whole other level.”
That is exactly what Mike Macdonald and Seattle fans want to hear.
Yes, Barner was dependable last season, but now the 2026 season is for AJ to go from a dependable weapon for Sam Darnold to a game-breaking headache for defenses.
With Barner being a little banged up, he isn't expected to hit the practice field until training camp, so that might put him behind the eight ball a little, but it is hardly a big deal.
The Seahawks will have a target on their back in 2026, and with a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury, everyone will need to pull their weight in this Super Bowl defense.
And Barner, who has eyes on becoming the best tight end in football, could be leading the way.
