Jones already won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and now he's doubled it with the Seahawks, but there is a key difference in the mentality in the aftermath.
This offseason, the Seattle Seahawks have taken everything in stride as Super Bowl champs, looking to make a good fist of repeating in 2026.
Yes, some key players have moved on, like Kenneth Walker and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who is now with the Las Vegas Raiders, but the Seahawks have hit the ground running this offseason.
Nearly 100 percent attendance at OTAs has fueled a great start in Mike Macdonald's third year with the Seahawks looking superb as attention turns to training camp.
The attitude and mentality of a team that has just won the Super Bowl is an interesting watch, and linebacker Ernest Jones IV is in a position not many players are in.
He won his first Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams back in 2022, and climbed the mountain again in 2025 with the Seahawks, so he's seen how difference offseason approaches work post-Super Bowl win.
“I just think the mindset, it’s kind of different,” Jones said via Seattle Sports. “The first time (with the Rams), we were trying to defend it. This time, (last year) really doesn’t matter. … Last year is not going to help us.
“We’ve gotta go out and do it again and do what we did and establish ourself early and keep that going.”
So there is a key difference that Jones spoke of.
With the Rams, it was very much defend the title, whereas with Macdonald and the Seahawks, there's no defending it, they are "running it forward" as the head coach stated.
Plus, some teams rest on their laurels after winning the NFL's penultimate game, but by all accounts, and yes, it is early, but Seattle doesn't appear to be content.
Players are showing up for OTAs and putting in the work, which, at this time of the year, you don't often see from veterans, given they are voluntary, but the Seahawks are all bought in to what Macdonald is putting together.
Of course, nothing is given in the NFL, and just because the Seahawks have the right mentality and are ready to go the distance doesn't mean they will.
But they are giving themselves the best chance at going as far as they can by laying a good foundation this offseason.
