Brady’s First 2026 NFL Power Rankings Put Seahawks on Top After Week 1

Tom Brady has released his opening power rankings of the 2026 NFL season, and the Fox Sports analyst placed the Seattle Seahawks at No. 1 after their 13-10 victory over the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch. Brady’s list rewarded Week 1 results rather than preseason projections, with all ten teams on his board having opened the year with a win.

“At number one, come on, it’s the Seahawks,” Brady said, arguing that a Super Bowl winner taking down a rematch of that same game warranted the top spot regardless of who was under center. Seattle trailed 10-0 before its defense and late-game execution flipped the contest. Drew Lock threw for 187 yards, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba hauled in 10 catches for 122 yards.

The rankings carry relevance for Fox Corporation, which airs Brady’s NFL analysis. Fox shares traded at $65.48 in recent trading, up 0.94% from a previous close of $64.87, giving the company a market capitalization of roughly $26.8 billion.

Bears, 49ers, Ravens and Bills Fill Out the Top Five

Chicago sits second after dismantling Carolina 59-37 behind 300 rushing yards. Quarterback Caleb Williams opened the season with 334 total yards and four touchdowns, prompting Brady to reference the early MVP conversation and head coach Ben Johnson’s plans for the offense.

San Francisco comes in third after beating division rival Los Angeles 27-7 in Melbourne, with Brock Purdy passing for 205 yards and the defense holding the Rams to seven points. Brady praised Kyle Shanahan’s group for managing the international trip against a well-regarded opponent.

Baltimore is fourth following a 41-23 win over Indianapolis in which Lamar Jackson passed for 324 yards and Derrick Henry rushed for 144. Brady flagged new head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle as developments worth tracking.

Buffalo rounds out the top five after a 36-31 defeat of Houston, fueled by 334 passing yards from Josh Allen — though Brady noted a dropped interception that could have altered the result.

The rest of Brady’s top 10 features Tampa Bay, Detroit, Jacksonville, Kansas City and Philadelphia.

What to watch

• Whether Brady’s Week 2 rankings shake up a top five built entirely on one-game samples.
• Fox Corporation’s next quarterly earnings report and any commentary on NFL audience metrics early in the season.
• Seahawks quarterback usage going forward after Brady’s comments that the top spot doesn’t depend on who starts at QB.
• Chicago’s offense under Ben Johnson with Caleb Williams’ early statistical pace.

Source: original release