Seattle, WA
The Hutch Effect: Hall of Famer Providing ‘Unbelievable Resource’ For Seattle Seahawks
Putting an emphasis on the trenches in their first draft entering the Mike Macdonald era, the Seattle Seahawks invested three of their eight picks on offensive linemen, including snagging UConn guard Christian Haynes in the third round as a potential day one starter.
Considering Seattle lost all three of its interior starters from last season in free agency, starting with four-year starting left guard Damien Lewis, the shift towards the line of scrimmage shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Luckily for general manager John Schneider, he has an asset at his disposal that most NFL teams can’t rival in Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson, who serves as a football consultant for the front office and actively takes part in pro scouting.
Having witnessed Hutchinson’s fantastic NFL career and building a strong relationship with him dating back to his time as a scout for the Seahawks, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy believes his presence gives the organization a tremendous advantage evaluating the offensive line, which unfortunately wasn’t a strong suit for the scouting department during most of Pete Carroll’s tenure as head coach.
“They’re lucky to have Hutch as part of that scouting department now, that is an unbelievable resource for them.” Nagy said during an interview on the Locked On Seahawks podcast. “Not all players who scout are great scouts. But just talking offensive linemen over the years with Hutch, he knows exactly what he’s looking at. He’s really dialed into the makeup of these players.”
Since Hutchinson, who earned All-Pro honors seven times in his illustrious career, joined the scouting department prior to the 2020 season, Seattle has found more success selecting quality offensive linemen via the draft. In his first year back with the organization, Lewis arrived as a third-round pick out of LSU and immediately earned a spot in the starting lineup at left guard. Prior to bolting for Carolina in March, he started 61 games in four seasons with the franchise.
With only three picks in the 2021 draft, Hutchinson carried a strong voice in Seattle’s decision to select of Stone Forsythe in the sixth round. Thrust into action for eight starts at right tackle in 2023, the former Florida standout has developed into a solid reserve swing tackle as he enters the final year of his rookie deal, providing good value for a late day three pick.
Two years ago, the Seahawks reinvented their offensive line by selecting tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, installing them as Week 1 starters and only the third pair of rookie tackles to open a season starting for an NFL team since 1970. Though injuries marred Lucas’ second season, both players remain foundational pieces for the offensive line moving forward, while center Olu Oluwatimi and guard Anthony Bradford, who were drafted in 2023, will have a chance to carve out long-term starting roles this summer.
As Nagy noted, Hutchinson has continued to swing a big stick for Seattle’s scouting department, spending extensive time visiting with line prospects this past fall as well as at the Senior Bowl.
“When you get a Steve Hutchinson coming to your school, you’re not going to treat him like every other scout on the road right?” Nagy said. “I’m surprised more teams haven’t done that with legendary players because these schools roll out the red carpet for Hutch when he goes in. Not only does he get to watch the guy practice and watch tape like all the other scouts, I’m sure he sits there for however long as he wants to sit there and watch tape and talk football with them. So you know it’s a great resource for John [Schneider].”
Having done his homework on the road meeting and speaking with numerous prospects, Schneider leaned heavily on Hutchinson’s expertise and opinion throughout draft weekend. As everyone in the room sweated out the process waiting to pick at 81 overall, per Seahawks.com, the esteemed general manager turned to Hutchinson and asked him what he thought of Haynes.
In response, Hutchinson told Schneider he thought Haynes was going to be a “really good [expletive] player,” and moments later, the Seahawks turned his name in as the selection. With the Hall of Famer actively involved throughout the process entering a busy day three of the draft, the team later added Utah guard Sataoa Laumea and Findlay tackle Michael Jerrell in the sixth round, adding more depth and upside to the offensive line.
Per Nagy, who reached out to Hutchinson after the draft concluded, the consultant couldn’t have been happier with the trio of linemen Seattle landed despite not having a second round pick due to the Leonard Williams trade from last October.
“I know he liked Christian Haynes,” Nagy said, again referencing Hutchinson’s presence as an underrated move for the Seahawks front office. “He was fired up after the draft after those three guys. I texted him and he was excited about all of the offensive linemen they took.”
Looking towards the 2024 season and beyond, the Seahawks have plenty of questions left to address along the offensive line with a new coach in Scott Huff taking over. After missing 11 games last season, Lucas underwent offseason knee surgery and likely won’t be back on the field until the start of training camp at the earliest, while Cross has yet to take the jump towards becoming a top-10 left tackle as the organization envisioned when they drafted him ninth overall two years ago.
In the interior, with three starting jobs left to fill, Oluwatimi has just one career start under his belt and Bradford endured a rocky stretch of play starting 10 games as a rookie last season. It remains to be seen whether either of them will emerge as a viable long-term option, but veteran center Nick Harris and Haynes will be ready to push them for a starting spot right away, while Laken Tomlinson should provide a steady stop gap at left guard for Seattle with Laumea developing behind him.
Given the youth and lack of experience overall up front, time will tell if the Seahawks can finally assemble a cohesive offensive line that becomes a strength for the team. But unlike most of the 2010s where the franchise struggled to draft and develop linemen, with Hutchinson leaving a major imprint on the construction of the group and Huff ready to make his mark, there’s no shortage of optimism and excitement about what the unit can potentially become.
Anyone waiting for the ferry, taking a stroll along the revamped Seattle waterfront or visiting the Seattle Aquarium just got a new option for finding a sweet treat: Ben & Jerry’s is coming to Pier 54.
A lease announcement last week shared that the new shop will be operated by local franchise owners Lance and Moria Blair, owners of the Green Lake and Gig Harbor Ben & Jerry’s locations. They pair is also opening another Seattle location in Northgate soon.
The permanent shop announcement comes after Ben & Jerry’s operated a pop-up at the waterfront location last simmer.
“As a Seattle native, the waterfront holds a special place in my heart,” Lance Blair said in a news release. “I could not be more excited to be a part of bringing Ben & Jerry’s to Pier 54 and continue building connections with the local community while serving visitors from around the world.”
The new location comes as local ice cream chains Molly Moon’s and Salt & Straw have also expanded into the downtown area in the past year.
Where is the new Ben & Jerry’s location?
The new Ben & Jerry’s is located at Pier 54 on the Seattle Waterfront: 1001 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98104.
The shop will be open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Where are the other Ben & Jerry’s locations in Seattle?
The ice cream chain operates four other locations in the Seattle area:
- Alki Beach: 2742 Alki Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
- Bellevue: 166 Bellevue Way NE Bellevue, WA 98004
- Green Lake: 7900 E Green Lake Drive N Suite 104, Seattle, WA 98103
- Kirkland: 176 Lake Street South, Kirkland, WA 98033
How many locations does Ben & Jerry’s have in Washington?
Ben & Jerry’s has ten locations across Washington, including two in Issaquah and three in the Spokane area. See the full list of locations at benjerry.com/ice-cream-near-me.
Zachary Fletcher is a trending news reporter with USA TODAY Network’s Washington state team. Keep up with him on X (@zdfletch), BlueSky (@zfletcher.bsky.social) or reach him at zfletcher@usatodayco.com.
Seattle, WA
VIDEO: Mayor Wilson proposes renewing, expanding Seattle Transit Measure by doubling the sales-tax percentage that funds it.
Through the end of this year, 0.15% of the sales tax you pay funds the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure. That would double to 0.30% if the City Council and Seattle voters approve the renewal/expansion that Mayor Katie Wilson officially introduced this afternoon. She said it’ll make living in Seattle more affordable by enabling more people to “live car-free or car-light.” She acknowledged that raising the sales tax isn’t ideal but noted that it’s one of the few revenue-raising tools available under state law. Besides paying for more transit – 280,000 additional Metro bus trips a year, 100,000 more than the current measure funds – it also would pay for 22,000 free ORCA transit passes, more than double what the city provides now, said acting SDOT director Angela Brady during the announcement event at City Hall. The passes are now available to Seattle Promise scholars, low-income Seattle Preschool Program families, and Seattle Housing Authority residents. The measure’s renewal/expansion would also make those passes available to Housing Choice Voucher participants.
The mayor’s announcement says the Transit Measure isn’t just about buses: It also would “support the design and delivery of Sound Transit’s West Seattle Link Extension, Ballard Link Extension, and Graham Street Station.” The 0.30% sales tax would generate an estimated $138 million average per year for the 10 years of this measure, which is proposed to go to voters in November. Council review starts this Thursday and will be led by District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka, who chairs the council committee that oversees transportation. We’ll add the specific text of the proposal when we get it; the slide deck for Thursday’s council meeting is now available, and we’ll add some highlights from that soon.
SEATTLE — With less than two weeks before Seattle hosts matches during the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Seattle City Council Public Safety Committee Chair Bob Kettle is escalating his criticism of Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision not to activate newly installed CCTV cameras in the Stadium District and suggesting she is violating established law.
In a sharply worded letter sent Monday, Kettle argues that the mayor’s decision to pause activation of the city’s Technology-Assisted Public Safety Pilot Program is inconsistent with city law and the ordinances approved by the Seattle City Council.
RELATED | Mayor Wilson hosts discussion on surveillance and security, takes questions from public
“I believe that she is not operating according to the ordinances, the law with respect to the stadium ordinances, and her duties under the charter,” Kettle said in an interview on Tuesday.
The dispute centers on 22 CCTV cameras that have already been installed in and around Seattle’s Stadium District but remain inactive as city leaders debate privacy concerns and the circumstances under which the system should be used.
Kettle said the approaching World Cup is what prompted him to send the letter.
“Basically, we’re less than two weeks out from the World Cup, and we’re not ready,” Kettle said. “We have capacity with these stadium cameras, they’re up, they’re installed, but they’re not turned on.”
In his letter, Kettle argues that the council already approved the surveillance technology through council-approved ordinances, specifically outlining the limited circumstances under which the program can be paused.
According to Kettle, those conditions include situations where the city is compelled to release camera data for civil immigration enforcement, gender-affirming care investigations, or reproductive healthcare matters, or when city leaders determine the technology is being used for those purposes.
RELATED | City leaders say Seattle ready for World Cup, despite concerns with surveillance, drones
“Neither condition has occurred that would merit a temporary program pause,” Kettle wrote.
The councilmember contends that the Seattle Municipal Code and the approved surveillance impact report provide no authority for the mayor to indefinitely delay the program’s implementation beyond those specified exceptions.
The mayor’s office has defended its position, saying activation decisions will be guided by public safety experts and intelligence assessments ahead of the World Cup.
“Mayor Wilson continues to consult public safety officials regarding circumstances that might warrant use of the expanded set of cameras during the FIFA World Cup,” the mayor’s office said in a previous statement. “We appreciate councilmembers’ perspectives, and those will be part of ongoing discussions.”
The previous statement continued:
“With regard to credible threats: Identifying a credible threat involves multiple experts from federal, state, and local agencies monitoring and assessing various streams of information. In collaboration with one another, they weigh incoming intelligence and jointly recommend whether to elevate security operations. Mayor Wilson’s decision whether to activate the Stadium District cameras will be informed by this group’s recommendation.”
The mayor’s office has been asked if there is a change in perspective given Kettle’s letter. In a new statement obtained by KOMO News on Tuesday, the mayor’s office said Wilson’s position remains “unchanged.”
“Per our legal review, we believe council has the authority to pause the use of adopted surveillance technology but cannot require its use,” the mayor’s office said in Tuesday’s statement. “The Mayor is ensuring that our use of surveillance technology is protective of civil rights, liberties, and privacy and provides sufficient data privacy safeguards. The Mayor has a duty to make sure our use of these technologies is responsible.”
Kettle argues that waiting for a specific threat before activating the cameras misunderstands modern security planning.
SEE ALSO | Seattle mayor’s verbal missteps prompt national and viral attention, leadership questions
“There are credible concerns,” Kettle said, citing worries about drones and other security issues surrounding a major international event.
He pointed to examples, including the 1996 Atlanta Olympic bombing and the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, arguing that public officials often do not receive advance warning before attacks occur.
“This idea that you’re going to get a credible threat warning is not right. It’s not the professional standard,” Kettle said. “The 22 cameras are installed, they’re ready to go, they just need to be turned on.”
Opponents of the camera expansion have raised concerns that footage could potentially be sought by federal immigration authorities or used in ways that conflict with Seattle’s sanctuary city policies.
Kettle dismissed those concerns, arguing that the council built extensive safeguards into the legislation governing the cameras.
“We don’t have facial recognition,” Kettle said, noting the city established restrictions and oversight measures as part of the technology program.
He also argued that federal agencies have their own surveillance capabilities and do not need Seattle’s camera network to conduct enforcement operations.
Kettle said he sought legal guidance before sending the letter and believes the mayor’s decision is inconsistent with the ordinances governing the program.
“I asked the question, if Mayor Harrell had to do all this in terms of ordinances, why is it that Mayor Wilson does not?” Kettle said. He said attorneys reviewing the issue identified concerns centered on the language governing when the program may be “paused.”
While Kettle stopped short of calling for legal action against the mayor, he said he wanted to publicly highlight what he views as a conflict between the administration’s actions and council-approved law.
“Her move related to the pause is not right, and essentially a violation,” Kettle said.
Kettle said Seattle is the only one of the 11 World Cup host cities that does not have its full camera system operational and warned that the city is running out of time.
“We have to take action now to get ourselves ready for the World Cup,” he said. “That is ensuring that we have all the pieces in place, and that we’re using the capacities that we have to their full ability.”
Kettle said he was scheduled to meet with members of the mayor’s team on Tuesday and hopes a resolution can be reached before the first World Cup matches arrive in Seattle.
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