By Jason Cruz
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. This time around, we write about some team members of the Seattle Seahawks that will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60.
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) walks off the field in an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)
Zach Charbonnet – Unfortunately for Charbonnet, he will not be able to play in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Charbonnet suffered a season-ending knee injury against the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Playoff game in January. Prior to that, the running back had a career year scoring 12 touchdowns this season. Sharing time with Kenneth Walker III, Charbonnet was a touchdown threat whenever the Seahawks were at the goal line. In addition to the career high in touchdowns, he had the most attempts of his pro career with 184 and most yards with 730.
The 25-year-old was born and raised in Southern California. His mother is part Cambodian and Chinese and immigrated to the United States from France. His father is Black. A star in high school, he committed to the University of Michigan for football. After a year, he transferred to UCLA. He was a second-round draft pick of the Seahawks in 2023.
Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) gets set during the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)
Ty Okada – It’s been an up and down road for the Montana State graduate, but Okada has finally found his spot in the Seahawks secondary. The safety went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft and signed with the Seahawks as a free agent. He then was waived by the Seahawks in August 2024 and then signed to the practice squad. This happened several more times during the last couple years. However, 2025 was his big season with the Seahawks.
Okada filled in for an injured Nick Emmanwori and Julian Love during the middle of the season and the safety position did not skip a beat. Okada’s stint was highlighted by an interception against the Washington Redskins on Sunday Night Football.
In an interview during Super Bowl week, Okada was asked about his Japanese surname. His great-great-grandfather, Shigetoma Okada, immigrated to the United States through the Seattle port. He went to the University of Minnesota to study engineering. Okada grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota. The 26-year-old played high school football and was an amateur wrestler. He walked-on to the football team of Montana State.
He stated that he and his fiancee will honeymoon in Japan. “I am looking forward to getting connected with my extended cousins.”
“I feel very proud,” Okada said of his Japanese heritage. “I have so much respect for the culture.”
Seattle Seahawks place-kicker Jason Myers (5) walks on to the field during the NFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)
Jason Myers – The All Pro Placekicker for the Seahawks has been a huge part of the team for seven seasons. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2022. He holds the franchise record in most field goals made (200) and most points scored (892). This season, he set a franchise record for most field goals in a season (41), most field goals attempted in a season (48), most 50+ yard field goals made in a season, and most points in a season (171).
Myers was born in Chula Vista, California and went to high school at Mater Dei Catholic High School. He played soccer and football. He attended Marist University in New York, where he was the starting placekicker all four years. He went undrafted and continued to train to wait for his chance. In 2015, he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he played for 4 seasons. He then signed with the Seahawks but was cut in August 2018. He was picked up by the Jets for a season before re-signing with the Seahawks.
Myers’ great grandfather was from the Philippines. He passed away prior to Myers being born. His grandfather served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Pensacola, Florida. He does not know much about his Filipino roots although he is proud to say that he is Filipino.
“There’s some names where if they don’t sound like they are Filipino, but once you find out, it’s always met with a smile and a hug,” Myers said in a 2023 interview.
Jason can be reached at newstips@nwasianweekly.com.
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