Seahawks just couldn’t let their Canadian tight end go

PHOENIX — Canadian tight end Luke Willson was so popular in the Seattle Seahawks locker-room, the NFL team had little choice but re-sign him this off-season.

The Seahawks did so earlier this month, days after his four-year rookie contract expired, for one year at a reported US$1.8 million.

“He’s a guy that all of our players want on our team,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday morning during the NFC coaches breakfast that wrapped up the league’s four-day annual meeting. “And so we had to figure out a way to get that done, and we were able to.”

The 6-foot-5, 252-pound Willson was born in Windsor, Ont., and raised in the adjacent town of LaSalle.

The Seahawks drafted him in the fifth round (158th overall) in 2013. Over his four years in the Pacific Northwest, Willson has served as Seattle’s first- or second-string tight end — first backing up Zach Miller as a rookie, then after starting 10 games in 2014 as the team’s No. 1, he has backed up Jimmy Graham, whom Willson now considers a close friend.

The 27-year-old Willson has caught 74 passes for 976 yards and seven touchdowns in his career and played in two Super Bowls. But Willson’s value extends beyond the numbers, Carroll said.

“He’s a great team member. He’s really one of the highlight team members because of the attitude that he brings.

“He’s just at the centre of the spirit of our team, and he’s been a great guy. He helps on special teams. He can catch the ball. He’s really fast. He can get downfield and make big plays. He’s versatile. He’s become a very versatile player for us.”