SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Detroit Lions were desperate. With their secondary decimated by injuries to stars Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch late in the 2025 season, the front office made a call to a familiar face. They wanted veteran safety Quandre Diggs back in Honolulu Blue.
Diggs said no.
Now, standing on the podium at Super Bowl LX Media Night on Monday, that decision looks like a stroke of genius. While the Lions are watching from home, Diggs is preparing to suit up for the Seattle Seahawks against the New England Patriots this Sunday.
The timeline is brutal for Detroit fans but perfect for Diggs. After a short stint with the Tennessee Titans earlier in the 2025 season, Diggs signed with the Seahawks’ practice squad in late November to help shore up a battered defense. When the Lions called days later—hoping to poach him for their own playoff push—Diggs had the leverage to choose his path. Because practice squad players aren’t bound by standard active-roster exclusivity, he could decline the move.
He chose loyalty to his “family” in Seattle over a return to the franchise that traded him away in 2019.
The result? The Seahawks went on a tear, capping their run with a thrilling 31-27 victory over the Rams in the NFC Championship Game. Diggs, though technically on the practice squad, has been a vital veteran voice in a locker room now four quarters away from the Lombardi Trophy.
Talking with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press amidst the media frenzy at Levi’s Stadium, Diggs didn’t shy away from the reality of the situation.
“I had a chance this year, just didn’t work out that way. I mean, I was here [Seattle]. It was just an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up to be back here and enjoy these moments.” — Quandre Diggs, Seahawks Safety
Despite the “bad breakup” with the Matt Patricia regime years ago, Diggs insisted there is no lingering bitterness toward the city or the fans. He even dropped a nugget that will comfort the Detroit faithful: once he finally hangs up the cleats, expect to see him at Ford Field—strictly as a fan.
For Seattle, keeping Diggs was about more than depth; it was about insurance. With a secondary that has faced tests from the likes of Matthew Stafford and now prepares for Patriots rookie sensation Drake Maye, having a three-time Pro Bowler (2020-2022) ready to elevate is a luxury few teams possess.
The Seahawks enter Sunday’s matchup as 4.5-point favorites, riding the arm of Comeback Player of the Year candidate Sam Darnold. If Seattle hoists the trophy, Diggs’ decision to stay put will go down as one of the smartest “business decisions” of the 2025-26 season.
