Seahawks' Brady Russell has major life moment captured on 'Hard Knocks'

Bob Condotta, The Seattle Times on Aug 19, 2026

Published in Football

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SEATTLE — Seahawks fullback Brady Russell starred in this week’s episode of “Hard Knocks” in ways expected and once in a lifetime.

Russell was the team’s unofficial special teams captain last season (the Seahawks under Mike Macdonald do not name captains for the season but rather for each game) and spiritual spark plug of a unit that was generally regarded as the best in the NFL last season.

Fittingly, he began setting a tone for the special teams in 2026 when he combined with Jared Ivey for a hard-hitting tackle of Dallas running back Israel Abanikanda on a kickoff return following the Seahawks’ first — and what turned out to be only — touchdown on their opening drive of the preseason-opening loss to the Cowboys.

“Hard Knocks” showed the play and shifted to a shot of general manager John Schneider in a private box letting out a complimentary exultation that’s not printable here but basically boiled down to “Great hit!”

That turned out to be Russell’s only stat of the game as he learned at halftime that wife Annie’s contractions were increasing and he was needed at home. A few hours later, Annie gave birth to the couple’s first child, daughter Hadley.

“Saturday was cool, it was eventful,” Russell said Wednesday. “The night before we thought she was in labor having contractions and stuff. It was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be at the game, don’t know if I’m going to have to be home.’ Then contractions held off, so I was like, ‘All right,’ and she was like: ‘Go play. Go have fun.’ I went and at halftime I checked, and she was having contractions again, so I was like, ‘I better hit the road.’ ”

Russell had arranged for a fast getaway before the game, saying he gave Annie the number for the Seahawks managing director of security, George Englebright.

“They had a car ready in case I needed to get out of there quick, but it wasn’t super urgent,” he said. “I had time to go home and get her.”

All turned out well as Annie gave birth to Hadley, who weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces.

“She’s a little tank,” Russell said, adding: “She’s super cute. I never thought a newborn was cute until I saw my own.”

“Hard Knocks” also gave Russell and his family a nice keepsake by filming the moment in the locker room when Russell finished changing out of his football uniform and into normal clothes and accepted congratulations from teammates and coaches.

Only, he has yet to see it.

“I’m actually not watching ‘Hard Knocks’ until after,” he said. “I got too many things going on already.”

But the moment, he says, is already etched in his mind.

“It was super kind of them,” he said. “It’s such a unique thing because I’m like: ‘Holy cow. I’m about to go have a kid.’ And freaking out in my head, trying to get ready to get in the car. Everybody to come show me some love was very sweet of them.”

Russell became one of at least a half-dozen Seahawks who have become fathers either again or for the first time in recent months, including defensive lineman Leonard Williams and defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

Coach Mike Macdonald and his wife, Stephanie, are also expecting their second child in December after having their first, son Jack, in December 2024.

“The wives are all super close here, so it’s cool, that group, just how they rally and support each other,” Russell said. “I don’t think the babies have changed anything, but they have definitely added some new responsibility to the group.”