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Moments after capturing his first NFL championship at Super Bowl XLVII, when most players would prefer to revel in their accomplishments, Earl Thomas was already starting to miss football.

Although he was happy the Seahawks had achieved their goal and become champions, Earl noted during his postgame press conference that he felt bad that they would not be playing for a long period of time.

Some were startled by the comment, but for those who know Earl, it came as no surprise.

“He is the most competitive, gritty guy you could ever imagine,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll noted. “He is never not on.”

It was classic Earl, the type of moment that makes No. 29 who he is, and reflects the passion that he brings to the game daily.

“I’ve never seen anybody else like Earl,” cornerback Byron Maxwell said last year. “It’s crazy how he gets like that every day. I’m not like that. I’m a playful guy. When I get out of whack, he’s always there. You need that.”

ET III’s eagerness to get back onto the field and continued self-motivation to grow as a football player has stuck with him his entire life. Tonight, the long wait from February will finally end as the Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field at 5:30 p.m. ET in their first game as defending Super Bowl Champions and the kickoff contest of the 2014 NFL season.

As Seattle begins its title defense, Earl and his fellow Seahawks will be attempting to become the first NFC team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman–led Dallas Cowboys captured Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII in 1993 and 1994.

With that in mind, the Hawks have a mantra that they plan to carry through the entire season, starting with Thursday’s contest against the Packers.

“You’re going to hear this a lot for this team: This is a championship game,” ET said. “It’s another opportunity to play. We’re excited to show everybody who we are. This is a big stage.”

Last season’s display of dominance by the Seahawks has brought a lot of attention to the team, but No. 29 refuses to buy into the frenzy. Instead, he prefers to rely on the confidence he has in his training and preparation.

“Well the hype is the media, ESPN, TVs, and stuff we shouldn’t be looking at,” Earl said on Tuesday. “I think the thing that really separates us is we always stay true to who we are. We’re going to recapture what we did last year and add a few more things to it. But the way we practice and the way we prepare gives us the right to have confidence out there on Sundays or whenever we play.”

Over the long offseason, No.29 did anything but relax. Earl, who had 105 combined tackles and five interceptions in 2013, took the time to study film from his college and high school days, looking back at where he came from to help him understand how he can further improve.

“This league can kind of make you soft,” ET III told The Seattle Times. “You forget your base, what got you here.”

Earl also dedicated himself to focusing on what he refers to as, “the little bitty details.” His coach, who mirrors ET in his meticulous nature, commented on the way his star defensive player prepares himself for the grind of the season.

“We’ve watched Earl gain a sense of understanding and depth,” Carroll told The Seattle Times. “He’s really gaining wisdom about himself and the challenges he’s up against and how to prepare in a way that it’s more of a strength rather than just a characteristic. You can see the crossover from competitor to grit.”

No. 29’s hard offseason preparations have already paid dividends. This year, ET III has earned another opportunity to help his team. In addition to his duties helming the Seahawks defense at free safety, Carroll announced earlier this week that the three-time All-Pro will also be the team’s lead punt returner.

It’s a job that resonates with ET III and allows him to play the game with an infectious enthusiasm that he says comes from having fun playing the game he loves.

“I’m treating this game like Pop Warner,” Earl said. “I get to play punt return and free safety. I get to play both ways. This is what I did in high school so it just feels good to be on the ultimate stage like this and have that opportunity.”

While he is anxious to make plays on special teams, No. 29 neglected to set a goal for how many touchdowns he will score, and instead left the ceiling wide open.

“I’m not putting a limit on anything,” Earl said. “I just want to be the best and have fun. I know when I get the ball in my hand I’ll make something happen though.”

Though some roles have changed slightly, most of the key players from Seattle’s championship run last season will once again be donning the familiar bright green, silver and blue, and the Hawks appear poised to make a run for a second-straight Super Bowl title.

However, the road will not be easy for the defending champs. The team’s opening three games all come against 2013 playoff contenders in the Packers, the San Diego Chargers, and Seattle’s Super Bowl opponent, the Denver Broncos.

Other key matchups include road contests with the Carolina Panthers (Oct. 26), Kansas City Chiefs (Nov. 16) and the Philadelphia Eagles (Dec. 7). And, of course, the other teams in the NFC West, particularly the San Francisco 49ers, will all be looking to de-throne the current kings of the NFL.

However it is Seattle’s first challenger, Green Bay, that presents perhaps the toughest challenge. The Packers are led by arguably the league’s best quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, a signal-caller who can make life difficult on any defense.

In a meeting with the media on Tuesday, Earl broke down what Rodgers does so well, and what the Seahawks must do to prevent him from having a big day.

“I think the biggest thing that he does that’s so great is he’s able to create with his legs,” ET said of Rodgers. “He hitches up and scrambles maybe to his right, and his receivers do a great job of keeping the play alive. So us on the other side of the ball, we have to be able to plaster it. We have to make sure our eyes our right. We can’t get lost in the backfield, because if we do that that’s how big plays get created.”

Even though he knows some of the best offensive minds in football have spent the entire offseason looking for ways to break down the Legion of Boom, Earl remains assured in his defense’s ability.

“I think we’re a great defense and I think we’re communicating really well,” he said. “We’re recognizing the formations and understanding the situations. The biggest thing right now is we know how teams want to attack us. We play a simple base defense, but at the same time we’re very, very good at what we do.”

Above all else, ET III remains devoted to the game of football and the process it takes to become a champion.

“Well the hard part about coming back is trying to get back to that same person you were at the Super Bowl,” ET III said. “Sometimes you can kind of rush it and you get frustrated because the results are not coming back like you wanted to. But the ultimate goal is to just focus on the process.”

Kickoff between the Seahawks and the Packers is set for 5:30 p.m. PDT, and the game can be seen nationally on NBC.