The Las Vegas Raiders are set to start a new era under head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith. Both Carroll and Smith were formerly part of the Seattle Seahawks, and they will start their 2025 preseason against the same franchise.
While the matchup itself is preseason on paper, it carries the weight of familiarity and intrigue and is one of the few games being broadcast nationally by NFL Network. All eyes will be on how Carroll and Smith reshape the Raiders against their former team, and the voices behind the broadcast will play a crucial role in bringing that story to life.
Who Are the NFL Network’s Announcers For Raiders vs. Seahawks Preseason Opener?
The Raiders vs. Seahawks preseason opener will kick off at 10 p.m. ET at Lumen Field on August 7, 2025. However, the NFL Network’s coverage starts way earlier, at 6 p.m. ET, with “NFL GameDay Kickoff.” Rhett Lewis will host it alongside analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks, who will unpack storylines, team camps, and preseason intrigue.
The “NFL GameDay Kickoff” will be followed by the national broadcast of the Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts season opener at 7 p.m. ET. The Raiders vs. Seahawks game will start at 10 p.m. ET, with Kate Scott calling the play‑by‑play, joined by Michael Robinson and Michael Bennett providing expert analysis and commentary.
While Scott has been a broadcaster for her life and has steadily risen through the ranks, including becoming the first woman to call an NFL game on the radio in 2016, both Robinson and Bennett are former Seahawks players. Robinson played fullback and was part of the 2014 Super Bowl-winning Seattle team, while Bennett played defensive end and suited up for the Seahawks from 2013 to 2017.
While the Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald has said he won’t be playing his starters in the preseason opener, that won’t be the case for the Raiders. Carroll has hinted at playing his starters, and both Smith and defensive back Jamal Adams are expected to be in action against their former teams.
Adams spent four years in Seattle, making one Pro Bowl appearance, while Smith spent five seasons with the team, during which he succeeded Russell Wilson in 2022.
GENO SMITH TAKES IT HIMSELF FOR THE LEAD WITH 12 SECONDS LEFT!!! 🤯😱
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/t6h8idcqjg— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 18, 2024
The Raiders will be looking to topple the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, with Andy Reid’s men having won the division in each of the last nine seasons. Smith’s performances will be key to achieving that goal, as will those of rookie Ashton Jeanty, who the team drafted sixth overall in April.
The Seahawks, meanwhile, allowed star receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf to leave along with Smith. The three fan favorites have been replaced with Sam Darnold, Cooper Kupp, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, while rookie receiver Tory Horton has impressed in camp.
Both teams have their eyes on the playoffs, with Carroll in no mood to hang around, as could be gathered from his preseason approach of testing his starters right on the first day of the preseason.
