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Ex-Viking Tapped on Shoulder to Play in Super Bowl
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- Ex-Viking Tapped on Shoulder to Play in Super Bowl
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Remember former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chazz Surratt ? Well, he has great timing. The Mike Zimmer era defender cleared injured reserve this week and has returned just in time to participate in Super Bowl LX as a member of the Seattle Seahawks .
Seattle's activation gives Surratt a late-week opportunity, with his role likely centered on special teams snaps.
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Surratt lasted just one year in Minnesota, and four seasons later, he could win a Super Bowl ring with Sam Darnold and friends.
Surratt's Late Return Adds Seahawks Depth
A masterclass in timing for Surratt.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt tracks the play during a defensive snap at State Farm Stadium, showing positioning on Sep 25, 2025, as Seattle faced Arizona in Glendale. Surratt has rotated across teams recently, carving value through special teams and spot duty while competing for roster stability in the NFC West. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Surratt Hops Off IR
Surratt's dream will come true. Seahawks.com 's John Boyle wrote Tuesday, "The Seahawks activated linebacker Chazz Surratt from injured reserve on Tuesday, adding back to the roster a key special teams player ahead of Super Bowl LX. Rookie tackle Amari Kight was placed on injured reserve to make room on the 53-man roster. Surratt, who signed with the Seahawks before the start of the season, appeared in 11 games prior to suffering an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve."
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"While Surratt played only seven snaps on defense, he was a mainstay on special teams, playing 60 percent of Seattle's special teams snaps, recording 11 tackles, the second most on the team behind Brady Russell , who had 14 during the regular season."
When Surratt fell injured in November, the recovery timeline suggested he could return in time for the Super Bowl if Seattle advanced that far. Well, the Seahawks indeed advanced that far.
Stint in Minnesota + Career Overall
Vikings fans once talked themselves into Chazz the way teams often do with 3rd-Round picks. But that optimism didn't survive the transition from Mike Zimmer to Kevin O'Connell. When O'Connell arrived in 2022, Surratt was already drifting toward the roster fringe, never a priority to retain. His Minnesota resume ended after nine games as a rookie in 2021, all on special teams.
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Since then, Surratt has settled into a journeyman lane. Through four seasons, he has appeared in 52 games with five starts, logging 153 defensive snaps total. The 2024 campaign marked his heaviest usage, playing 17 games for the Giants while recording 18 defensive tackles and 10 more on special teams.
That modest production turned into a quiet 2025 free agency. Surratt went unsigned for roughly two and a half months before the 49ers offered a late-May audition. When that didn't work out, Seattle stepped in, making him a Seahawk and his fourth NFL stop.
Here's his destination list to date:
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Minnesota Vikings (2021)
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New York Jets (2022–2024)
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San Francisco 49ers (2025)
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Seattle Seahawks (2025)
Playing Time This Sunday?
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You probably won't see Surratt on defense; even as a linebacker, that's not his jam. However, there's a strong chance that Seattle gets him on the field for special teams, his current modus operandi. In fact, Surratt should fully expect to get special teams action; why activate him otherwise from injured reserve mere days before the Super Bowl?
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chazz Surratt warms up along the sideline before kickoff, offering a snapshot of his early NFL tenure on Aug 27, 2021, as Minnesota visited Kansas City at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Drafted as a developmental defender, Surratt's rookie role centered on special teams while he learned multiple linebacker responsibilities. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
In 11 games this season, the ex-Viking has played seven defensive snaps, with 181 on special teams. He may not be a special teams ace , but Mike Macdonald loves him in the mix on kickoffs and punt coverage.
Experts Like the Seahawks
Most pundits are picking Surratt's Seahawks over the Patriots this week. CBS Sports ' Ross Kelly noted on Seattle , "Seattle has played turnover-free ball over their last three games, and it is the only undefeated team (10-0) this season when committing 1 or fewer turnovers. Not giving the ball away keeps its No. 3 scoring offense on the field, and it's an explosive unit that leads the NFL in yards per pass completion (7.5)."
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"The other side of the ball ranks even better, topping the league, and No. 1 scoring defenses are 14-4 in the Super Bowl since 1970. The Seahawks are also the first team in a decade to rank in the top two in both yards per rush allowed (3.7, 1st) and yards per pass allowed (5.5, 2nd). In terms of the spread, Seattle is a league-best 14-5 ATS this season, as well as 8-1 versus the line away from home."
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold surveys the field during pregame moments at Lumen Field, capturing the stage surrounding a championship setting on Jan 25, 2026, before Seattle faced the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game. The image reflects Darnold's leadership posture as the Seahawks prepared for their season-defining matchup at home. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Bleacher Report 's Andrew Peters predicts three touchdowns for Darnold .
He explained , "Darnold had one of his best games of the season in the NFC Championship, posting 346 yards and three touchdowns in a win over the Los Angeles Rams . Darnold is only playing in the second postseason of his career, but that game showed that he's more than capable of rising to the moment."
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"The Patriots had respectable defensive performances against the Chargers , Texans and Broncos , but all three of those squads ranked outside of the top 12 in scoring this year. Expect Darnold to find the endzone a handful of times as he looks to win a Super Bowl and continue his tremendous rise to stardom."
Sportsbooks believe Seattle will prevail by four or five points.
