RENTON, Wash. — Somewhere along the way, Seattle Seahawks nose tackle Johnathan Hankins morphed from Big Hank to Big Time Hank.

Actually, growing up as a kid in Detroit with two older brothers he was initially known as John-John.

But then, as he grew and grew and grew — listed at 6-foot-3, 322 pounds as a senior at Southeastern High in Detroit — he became Big Hank. And then Big Time Hank.

"My oldest brother was (called) Hank, and then my second oldest brother, obviously they called us Hank because of our last name," he said. "I guess they would say 'big time' because I was the one that kind of made it to the big leagues and fulfilled everything I dreamed about. But it was just a name."

At times, though, it's also been a description, such as last Sunday when Hankins showed that at age 32 and 12 years in the NFL, he still has it.

Asked to play more following injuries to Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, Hankins responded with three tackles and a quarterback hit in 33 snaps as the Seattle defense kept the Dolphins off the scoreboard in the second half of an eventual 24-3 win.

Hankins came up particularly big when the Dolphins moved to the 3-yard line early in the fourth quarter, trailing 17-3 and threatening to at least make things somewhat uncomfortable for the Seahawks.

Hankins responded by helping blow up two straight running plays that resulted in a net loss of 1 yard, and then on third-and-goal from the 4 putting a rush on Miami QB Tim Boyle to force an incomplete pass. He was officially credited with a quarterback hit on the play.

Seattle's victory was assured when a Miami pass on fourth down also fell incomplete.

It was exactly the kind of veteran presence Seattle hoped Hankins could provide when he signed as a free agent in March. He played 17 and 27 snaps in Seattle's first two games, mostly on running downs (32 of 44). But against Miami the Seahawks needed him on the field in any situations once Murphy departed.

"He played great," said defensive coordinator Aden Durde. " I feel like he really pushed himself (playing as many snaps as he did) to take that on. He's done a great job for us."

Durde's hiring as the DC under new coach Mike Macdonald helped lure Hankins to Seattle.

Durde spent the last three seasons coaching the defensive line with Dallas. Hankins was dealt to the Cowboys at the trade deadline in 2022 by the Raiders and played 22 games for Dallas over the last two seasons.

Hankins juggled a few offers before signing a one-year deal with Seattle that is worth up to $1.96 million but had just $300,000 guaranteed and included $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses, saying he not only liked reuniting with Durde but also the opportunity the Seahawks presented.

"I've been doing this for 12 years now and my ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl," said Hankins, who has not been on a team that has advanced past the divisional round. "From the first year to now, I still think it's possible, especially with the team that we have now. It's becoming real-life for me that it's a chance that I can get this done at year 12, so it'd be great if we could win it this year and see how it goes."

What the Seahawks may need from Hankins on Monday night as he returns to his hometown to play the Lions is to be Prime Time Hank.

The Seahawks may again be without Murphy (hamstring) and Williams (ribs) as each missed practice Thursday. Hankins also showed up on the injury report, listed as limited with a calf injury.

But assuming Hankins is good to go, the Seahawks will need him to specifically pick up some of Murphy's snaps at nose tackle and help combat a Detroit running game that is fourth in the NFL at 164 yards per game powered by David Montgomery (77 yards per game) and Jahmyr Gibbs (69).

"Whoever we got out there, the standard doesn't drop off," Hankins said. " ... I feel like the guys that come in, shouldn't be any drop-off. Once you get the opportunity to go out there and play, you just have to go out there and do your job. So as far as drop-offs, he (Murphy) didn't finish the game last weekend, I don't think there was a drop-off."

That the game marks a homecoming adds a little bit more to Hankins' potentially a bigger role. He said he's having to round up about 20 tickets for Sunday's game.

He was a two-time All-State selection at Southeastern High in Dearborn Heights, about 20 miles outside of Detroit, where he said he was both a fan of the Steelers and the Lions, though the latter largely because of Barry Sanders.

That the Lions won only one playoff game from 1957 until last season didn't help.

"It was tough watching during Thanksgiving because we'd always get, I don't want to say demolished, but it was definitely a little rivalry there with Green Bay," he said. "I don't really look too much into it. I will say I'm happy that they're doing well. The city is gathering behind them and it's always good when your team is doing well, so I can't really say much else."

Hankins famously didn't get an offer from Michigan State, where he said he wanted to go, and then late interest from Michigan. That led to him eventually landing at Ohio State where he played three seasons before being taken in the second round (49th overall) by the Giants in 2013.

Hankins played four years there, another with the Colts and then from 2018-22 with the Raiders before his trade to Dallas.

He said publicly he considered retiring after the 2022 season before signing on with Dallas for one more year, and then this year for at least one more with the Seahawks.

"I would say the grind of it," he answered when asked what keeps him coming back. "Every year they draft younger defensive tackles, guys that pretty much will try to replace you and I just take it as a challenge. If I can go out there and compete at a high level and play and still produce, teams will still call and ask about me and still want me. And then just the love for the game, man."

Durde concurred.

"There's a reason you play 12 years in the league," Durde said. "He's a constant pro. He goes through the process. He loves football, loves the every day grind of it. It's a cool thing to see."

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