RENTON, Wash. — Quenton Nelson felt just about the way one would expect after being traded to the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks following eight-plus seasons with the Colts and over 12 years in the state of Indianapolis.
“The reaction, I’ve got to admit, was a little bittersweet,” Nelson said Thursday. “I formed a lot of great relationships in Indy. Great community there. But definitely excited for this next chapter.”
Nelson, an eight-time Pro Bowl guard, spoke to reporters two days after Seattle acquired him in the latest blockbuster trade made by Seahawks general manager John Schneider, who gave up a 2027 third-round pick and a fifth-rounder in 2028.
Nelson had been the subject of trade speculation after the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard on Oct. 19 amid a 2-4 start; last weekend’s loss dropped them to 2-5. When asked if he expected to be dealt, Nelson said he was “just controlling what I could control, which was being my best every day and doing my best on Sunday, leaving everything up to God.”
The sixth overall pick out of Notre Dame in 2018, Nelson started 136 games for the Colts and was named a first-team All-Pro three times. When asked whether he had any say over where he was traded, he said he did not.
“No, I met with [interim Colts GM Ed Dodds] the day before the trade and he told me that they were fielding calls and there were a few teams interested, one of them being Seattle,” Nelson said. “But he said, ‘How do I feel about it?’ I was like, ‘If that’s what you guys got to do, then great.’ I was happy when he called me in the next day and told me it’s Seattle.”
The Seahawks are keeping Nelson at left guard, the only position he has played in the NFL, and moving 2025 first-round pick Grey Zabel from left guard to right guard. That relegates Anthony Bradford, a starter since his rookie season in 2023, to a backup role.
“I think the style of play is the first thing you think of when you think of Quenton,” coach Mike Macdonald said. “Obviously he’s got incredible ability, but the physicality, the relentless play, we talk about decisive, shocking, relentless — that’s probably a good way to sum up what it looks like on tape.
“It’s going to be a process. We’ve put a lot of time and effort into the chemistry of our offensive line and we’ve got a couple things shaken up right now, but the guys will do a great job of meshing and getting on the same page and I think we’ll be better for it.”
Seattle’s offensive was projected to be a strength going into this season after returning all five starters from 2025, but Bradford missed five games with a knee injury and the unit as a hole has struggled at times.
With Bradford back in the lineup last Sunday night, the Seahawks (4-3) allowed zero sacks and only two official hits on quarterback Sam Darnold in their 20-3 win over the previously unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. That was after allowing a combined 10 sacks and 26 hits in back-to-back losses.
Left tackle Charles Cross suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter against Kansas City and is expected to miss some time, a source told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Macdonald said Cross isn’t practicing Thursday and that as of now, Seattle does not plan to place him on injured reserve.
“I just want to be clear, this isn’t a commentary on our personnel or anything like that,” Macdonald said of the Nelson trade. “We love our guys. It’s a situation where you understand how it affects the guys that have been here and [have been] working really hard and have earned a great role on our team, but also, two things can be true at the same time. It’s an opportunity to bring along an all-time, probably a surefire Hall of Fame guard with a great track record from our understanding about the type of person he is to join our locker room. It’s an opportunity that’s going to make the Seahawks better.”
Nelson, 30, is in the final year of the four-year, $80 million extension he signed with the Colts in 2022. For several years, the Seahawks’ M.O. under Schneider has been to not extend trade acquisitions right away, instead waiting until the end of the season to begin negotiating in earnest.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Nelson said about his contract situation. “I’m just excited to be here and going to do my best and control what I can control.”
Of more immediate concern to Nelson is learning a new offense and preparing for another matchup against Jeffery Simmons. Nelson will face his longtime AFC South foe Monday night when the Seahawks host the Chicago Bears, who acquired the star defensive tackle in a trade with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.
“He’s an amazing football player and competitor,” Nelson said. “I was like, ‘Man, I can’t get away from this guy.’ It’ll be another battle against him this week.”
Nelson described Brian Fleury’s offense as “completely different” than what the Colts run under head coach Shane Steichen.
“But I’ve got great people around me helping me out, between [O-line coach John Benton] and [assistant O-line coach Quinshon Odom] and also the players in the offensive line room,” he said. “Everyone is super welcoming and they understand that this is a whirlwind situation for me. I’ve got to step in and play left guard and pretty much get a whole offense installed, new protection, learn that as well and be ready to go Monday.”
Nelson wore No. 56 throughout his career in Indianapolis, but outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. wears that number for the Seahawks. When Nelson jogged onto the practice field Thursday, he was wearing No. 53, a new number to go along with what he called “a new opportunity” in Seattle.
“It’s great to have all those memories and years spent in Indy, but I’m excited for this,” he said. “It’s awesome over here.”
