RENTON, Wash. — All Coby Bryant needed was an opportunity.

Now he’s performing like one of the best players on a top-10 defense. This might sound surprising to those following the Seattle Seahawks from afar, but the people who have watched him transition from cornerback to nickel to safety since entering the league in 2022 knew it was only a matter of time before Bryant started to shine.

He entered the starting lineup in Week 7 as an injury replacement and hasn’t looked back. Since then, Bryant has recorded 41 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, five passes defended and three interceptions, which is tied for the league lead among safeties in that span. His presence in the secondary beside veteran safety Julian Love has helped stabilize a defense that fell off midway through the season in part because of struggles at the second and third level.

Coach Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks have gone from worst to first in the division since returning from their Week 10 bye week, and the defense’s turnaround has been the driving force behind the team’s four-game win streak, which the Seahawks (8-5) will try to extend against the Green Bay Packers (9-4) on Sunday night at Lumen Field. Since Week 11, Seattle’s defense ranks second in opponent points per drive and No. 1 in EPA per play, bringing its season ranking to seventh and eighth, respectively, proving the unit has legitimately turned a corner (all stats provided by TruMedia unless otherwise noted).

Bryant’s impact plays have been an important part of the story. His 69-yard pick six in Week 12 (which earned him player of the week honors), the game-ending quarterback pressure in Week 13 and his first-quarter interception in Week 14 are among the splash plays that have directly contributed to Seattle’s defense playing like a contender in the last month.

“You feel comfortable in the back end knowing that him and J Love are back there,” linebacker Ernest Jones IV said. “He’s a baller.”

Read more below about Bryant.