‘I’ve stayed true to myself. I’m grateful’: Seahawks’ Julian Love’s unforgettable Thursday

How can anyone beat the Thursday Julian Love just had?

His day of days began with him calling his wife Julia in the morning and having her and their baby boy Noah meet the Pro Bowl safety at his workplace: Seahawks headquarters.

After they arrived, between the team’s morning meetings, walk-through practice then his second, full practice of training camp in the afternoon, Love signed his three-year contract extension. It keeps him under contract with the Seahawks through the 2027 season.

His wife, his high-school sweetheart, and their 8-month-old son the were at his side as he signed the deal that became known Wednesday. It’s worth up to $36 million, including incentive and performance bonuses.

Freshly minted, Love said goodbye to his family and went out to practice. He laughed with trainers and teammates as he began his latest workout as Jamal Adam’s replacement in the back of Seattle’s defense.

On the final play for the starters of the practice, Love cut hard outside and dived in front of wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a short out route. Geno Smith didn’t expect Love to get such a sterling break on the route, or his pass. Love intercepted it while extended, Superman-flying style, above the ground.

“It was third and 4. We were in nickel. Geno had an idea of what we had going on,” Love said minutes later. “I got a good read on it, obviously, playing at the sticks (the first-down marker). A good break. The ball was right there for me. I was able to grab it and got off the field.”

On his way off the field into the locker room, Love answered the calls of fans clamoring for his autograph. He happily walked over and signed the neon-green bill of a girl’s Seahawks cap. She pressed her hands together excitedly and grinned.

Yet another signature filled with joy,

That’s a truly lovely day.

Love, 26, is getting Seattle’s first contract extension under new coach Mike Macdonald. The youngest coach in the NFL and general manager John Schneider decided Love was a foundational player — not just by giving him this new contract in negotiations that began this spring, but in March when they released the former All-Pro Adams. That cemented Love into the central role in the back of Seattle’s defense Macdonald is here to overhaul.

“Just really excited for him,” Macdonald said of Love and his new deal. “I think it’s a shout out to him and the type of person that he is, the type of football player, definitely the type of guy that we want here. Just excited for him.

“He’s worked his tail off, and hopefully he’s found a home here in Seattle for a long time.”

Before last season Love left his captaincy with the New York Giants, the team that drafted him in the fourth round out of Notre Dame in 2019, to sign with Seattle. He accepted a two-year deal worth $12 million through the 2024 season.

He massively outplayed that contract last year. Playing for the injured Adams, Love had a career-high four interceptions and 10 pass break-ups. His 123 tackles were one off his career-best from the previous season in New York. He had two interceptions of Jalen Hurts late to seal the Seahawks’ upset of the defending NFC-champion Philadelphia Eagles in December.

Later that month, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection of his five-year career.

Also that month: Love missed the entire week of practice for the birth of his son. Hours after his wife gave birth the Friday before the Seahawks’ game Sunday at Tennessee, Love flew to Nashville. He arrived about 36 hours before he played all of Seattle’s win over the Titans on Christmas Eve.

“I think I’m a big proponent of when in doubt, just double down on myself,” he said. “I think no matter what situation I’ve been placed in, I’ve been productive. I’ve stayed who I am, which is tough when things sometimes don’t fall your way.

“But I think that the most validating thing, is that I’ve stayed true to myself in this process as a player, as a person at home for my family. And to be rewarded is extremely validating. I’m grateful.”

And richer. Three times so.

“Obviously, security for me and my family. And just belief,” he said. “The program has belief in me, and I’m excited to be here long-term.”