Seahawks all-time team features Alexander, Largent and the “Legion of Boom”
Seahawks all-time team features Alexander, Largent and the “Legion of Boom”
This is the final in the series of NFL team history and all-time team articles. If you have any suggestions, you can contact me through any of the social media sites where you are reading this story or email me directly at krak4mets02@yahoo.com.
The Seahawks have played for an NFL championship three times, defeating the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII for their only title. Seattle’s all-time team has six Hall of Famers, an NFL MVP Award winner and members of the “Legion of Boom” secondary.
Head Coach: Pete Carroll is the team’s all-time leader in victories and has amassed an 89-54-1 record in nine seasons. Seattle has won four NFC West titles and appeared in the postseason seven times, including two trips to the Super Bowl and the franchise’s only championship. Mike Holmgren coached for 10 seasons in the Pacific Northwest. He had an 86-74 record and led the team to five division crowns and six playoff appearances, with the highlight being a loss to the Steelers in Super Bowl XL. Chuck Knox is the only other coach to lead the Seahawks to the playoffs, and he earned the nickname “Ground Chuck” because of his liberal use of the running game. He posted an 80-63 mark over nine seasons and took the team to the postseason four times, including a trip to the 1983 AFC Championship Game. Jack Patera led the franchise to a 35-59 record in its first six-plus years. While Seattle did not make the playoffs, they went 9-7 in 1978 and ’79.
Quarterback: Russell Wilson has led Seattle to a pair of Super Bowls and its only title. He tops the team list with 196 touchdowns and ranks third with 25,624 yards, including 3,000 or more yards in all seven seasons. The five-time Pro Bowler holds season records with 4,219 yards in 2016 and 35 scoring passes last year. Matt Hasselbeck is the team’s all-time leader with 29,434 yards and ranks third with 174 touchdowns. He had seven 3,000-yard seasons, was a three-time Pro Bowler and led the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL. Dave Krieg ranks second in franchise history with 26,132 yards and 195 scores. The three-time Pro Bowler earned the nickname “Mudbone” from his teammates because of his grit and toughness. Original starter Jim Zorn had 20,122 yards and 107 touchdowns in eight seasons. He led Seattle to a pair of playoffs and the 1983 AFC title game.
Running Back: Shaun Alexander is the team record-holder with 9,429 yards and 100 touchdowns. He was MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Pro in 2005 after leading the NFL with 1,880 yards and tying a league record with 27 touchdowns (both were also team records). The Super Bowl XL starter and three-time Pro Bowler ran for 1,000 or more yards five times. Chris Warren ranks second with 6,706 yards and fourth with 44 scores. He was a three-time Pro Bowler who had four 1,000-yard seasons. Curt Warner is third with 6,705 yards and 55 touchdowns. He was a three-time Pro Bowler who ran for 1,449 yards and 13 scores as a rookie in 1983. Marshawn Lynch played in two Super Bowls, was selected to four Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2012. “Beast Mode” ranks second with 57 touchdowns and fourth with 6,347 yards in six years. Ricky Watters ran for 4,009 yards, including 1,200 or more in three of his four seasons in Seattle. Original back Sherman Smith totaled 3,429 yards and 28 scores, with 11 in 1979.
Fullback: John L. Williams is a two-time Pro Bowler who is fifth in team history with 4,579 yards to go with 19 touchdowns while blocking for Warner and Warren. Mack Strong ranks second in team history with 206 games played. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro after blocking for Alexander’s MVP and Super Bowl 2005 season. Dan Doornink ran for 1,530 yards and 14 scores in seven years. Derrick Fenner totaled 1,167 yards and 19 touchdowns, including a league-leading 14 in 1990.
Wide Receiver: Hall of Famer Steve Largent holds team records with 819 receptions, 13,089 yards, and 100 touchdowns. Nicknamed “Yoda” because of his ability to make difficult catches look easy, Largent was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, a starter in the 1983 AFC Championship Game and the 1988 NFL Man of the Year Award winner. He had eight seasons with 1,000 or more yards, including a franchise-best 1,287 in 1985. Brian Blades is second with 581 catches and 7,620 yards and sixth with 34 scores. He had four 1,000-yard seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 1989. Doug Baldwin ranks second with 49 touchdowns and third with 581 receptions and 6,563 yards. The two-time Super Bowl participant and two-time Pro Bowler set a team record with 14 scores in 2015. He retired from the NFL in May. Darrell Jackson is third on the team list with 47 touchdowns and fourth with 441 catches and 6,445 yards. The Super Bowl XL starter was a member of the 2000 All-Rookie Team and had 1,000 or more yards three times. Fellow Super Bowl starter Bobby Engram finished his eight-year Seattle tenure with 399 receptions and 4,859 yards. Joey Galloway totaled 4,457 yards and 37 scores. Daryl Turner had 36 touchdowns, including a league-high 13 in 1985.
Tight End: Jimmy Graham was a two-time Pro Bowler who appeared in two playoff seasons. He is the position leader with 170 receptions, 2,048 yards and 18 touchdowns, including 10 in 2017. Itula Mili finished with 164 catches, 1,743 yards and 13 scores over nine years. John Carlson was a member of the All-Rookie Team in 2008.
Tackle: Hall of Famer Walter Jones was a nine-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro in 10 Seattle seasons. He played in 180 games along with Super Bowl XL. Russell Okung was a two-time Super Bowl participant and a Pro Bowl selection in 2012. Current left-side starter Duane Brown made the Pro Bowl in 2017. Sean Locklear played in 78 games and started opposite Jones in Super Bowl XL. Ron Essink and Steve August started in the 1983 AFC Championship Game. Andy Heck and Howard Battle were five-year starters.
Guard: Steve Hutchinson was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro in five seasons with the Seahawks. He started in Super Bowl XL and was a member of the 2001 All-Rookie Team. Chris Gray started opposite Hutchinson in the Super Bowl and played 158 games in 10 seasons. Edwin Bailey appeared in 139 contests in 11 years and started in the 1983 AFC Championship Game. J. R. Sweezy played in two Super Bowls. Floyd “Pork Chop” Womack appeared in Super Bowl XL. Bryan Millard appeared in 121 games in eight years. Original starter Bob Newton played 83 games in six seasons.
Center: Max Unger appeared in two Super Bowls, was named to the Pro Bowl twice and was an All-Pro in 2012. Robbie Tobeck played in 88 games and was a Pro Bowler in the 2005 Super Bowl season. Hall of Famer Kevin Mawae played his first four years in Seattle and was a member of the All-Rookie Team in 1994. Blair Bush started 78 games and the 1983 AFC Championship Game. Chris Spencer was on the All-Rookie Team in the 2005 Super Bowl season. Current starter Justin Britt appeared in Super Bowl XLIX.
Defensive End: Jacob Green tops the team’s all-time list with 97½ sacks, including five seasons with 10 or more and 16 in the AFC Championship Game season in 1983. The two-time Pro Bowler also ranks first with 17 fumbles recovered. Michael Sinclair is a three-time Pro Bowler who is first in team history with 25 forced fumbles and second with 73½ sacks, including a league-high 16½ in 1998. Green’s AFC title game teammate, Jeff Bryant, ranks third with 63 sacks, with 14½ in 1984. Frank Clark had 35 sacks, including 18 last year, before being traded to the Chiefs. Michael Bennett was a three-time Pro Bowler who amassed 39 sacks in five years. Cliff Avril played in two Super Bowls and registered 34½ sacks, including 11½ in his 2016 Pro Bowl season. Chris Clemons played in Super Bowl XLVIII and had 38 sacks in four years. Tony Woods notched 543 tackles and 16 sacks over six seasons.
Defensive Tackle: Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and the 1992 Defensive Player of the Year. He ranks fourth with 58 sacks to go with 668 tackles and 11 forced fumbles. Joe Nash played 218 games, the most in team history. The 1984 Pro Bowler and All-Pro also ranks third with 779 tackles and sixth with 47½ sacks. Brandon Mebane played in two Super Bowls and 131 games in nine years. Sam Adams was a member of the 1994 All-Rookie Team and posted 23 sacks. Hall of Famer John Randle played three years in Seattle and made the Pro Bowl in 2001.
Outside Linebacker: Current starter K. J. Wright made the Pro Bowl in 2016 and ranks fourth with 744 tackles, with four seasons of 100 or more. Chad Brown was a two-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 1998. He totaled 48 sacks and 741 tackles in eight seasons. Julian Peterson was a three-time Pro Bowler who forced nine fumbles. Keith Butler, Michael Jackson, and Bruce Scholtz all played in the 1983 AFC title game. Butler played in 146 games overall. Terry Wooden had 625 tackles and 10 fumbles recovered. Rufus Porter amassed 37½ sacks in seven years. LeRoy Hill was a member of the 1998 All-Rookie Team and registered 20 sacks and 586 tackles.
Middle Linebacker: Bobby Wagner is a five-time Pro Bowler, a four-time All-Pro and a two-time Super Bowl starter. He led the NFL with 168 tackles in 2016, had seven seasons with 100 or more and 981 overall, second-most in team history. Lofa Tatupu was a three-time Pro Bowler, a 2007 All-Pro and was on the All-Rookie Team in the 2005 Super Bowl season. He made 549 tackles and had three seasons with 100 or better. Fredd Young totaled 19 sacks, was a three-time Pro Bowler and made the All-Pro team in 1987. David Hawthorne made 100 or more tackles in three of his four years with the club.
Cornerback: Dave Brown is the team’s all-time leader with 50 interceptions and five returned for touchdowns. He started in the 1983 AFC Championship Game and was a Pro Bowler the following season. Richard Sherman was a four-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and a two-time Super Bowl starter. The vocal leader of the “Legion of Boom” had 32 picks. Marcus Trufant was on the 2003 All-Rookie Team, played in Super Bowl XL and made the Pro Bowl in 2007. He finished with 21 interceptions and 644 tackles. Brandon Browner was a Pro Bowler in 2011 and a starter in Super Bowl XLVIII. Shawn Springs made the Pro Bowl in 1998, and totaled 20 picks and 424 tackles. Keith Simpson (19 interceptions) and Willie Williams (17) each brought back three for scores. Simpson played in the 1983 AFC title game. Patrick Hunter had 12 interceptions in nine years.
Safety: Hall of Famer Kenny Easley was the leader of the “Blue Wave” defense and one of the hardest hitters of his era. He had 32 interceptions, including 10 in 1984, when he was named Defensive Player of the Year. The 1983 AFC title game starter also was a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. Eugene Robinson ranks second with 42 interceptions, including a league-leading nine in 1993. The two-time Pro Bowler also tops the team list with 983 tackles. John Harris, a 1983 AFC Championship Game participant, is third with 41 picks, including 10 in 1981. Earl Thomas was a six-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro and a two-time Super Bowl participant who had 28 picks. Kam Chancellor was a four-time Pro Bowler who registered 641 tackles in eight years. Darryl Williams had 20 interceptions, including eight in his 1997 Pro Bowl season. Robert Blackmon was a 1990 All-Rookie Team member who totaled 15 picks.
Kicker: Norm Johnson is the all-time franchise leader with 810 points, including five seasons with 100 or more. He played in the 1983 AFC Championship Game and was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro the following year. Steven Hauschka was a two-time Super Bowl participant. He had 100 or more points in all six seasons and 759 in total.
Punter: Jon Ryan tops the franchise list with 770 punts, 34,480 yards, and a 44.8-yard average. He had three seasons with 4,000-plus yards and played in two Super Bowls. Rick Tuten ranks second with 554 punts, 24,266 yards, and a 43.8 average. He had five 3,000-yards seasons and led the league in yardage twice. Michael Dickson was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro after averaging 48.2 yards on 78 punts as a rookie in 2018.
Returners: Steve Broussard is the all-time leader with 3,900 kickoff returns and he had 1,000 or more twice. Nate Burleson tops the punt return list with 1,288 yards. He led the league and set a team record with 658 in 2007. Leon Washington ranks second with 3,329 kick return yards and 1,069 punt return yards. The 2012 Pro Bowler also returned four kickoffs for touchdowns. Charlie Rogers ranks third with 3,214 kick return yards, including 1,629 in 2000. Tyler Lockett has 2,900 kickoff and 1,002 punt return yards. He was a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro in 2015 and led the league with 949 kick return yards two years later. Maurice Morris totaled 2,843 kickoff return yards in seven years. The Super Bowl XL participant had 1,007 in 2003. Josh Wilson had 2,350 kick return yards, including a team-record 1,753 in 2008. Galloway returned four punts for touchdowns.
Special Teams: Although he totaled 37½ sacks in seven years as a linebacker, Rufus Porter was a special teams Pro Bowler his first two seasons. Alex Bannister made the Pro Bowl in 2003, and his last game with the club was Super Bowl XL.
-By: Kevin Rakas