The Seahawks actually began their existence in the NFC, while their expansion twin Tampa Bay Buccaneers played in the AFC. This was a deliberate choice by the NFL, as both teams played every team in their respective conferences once, with a Seahawks/Bucs game being the only out-of-conference game for either team, filling out their respective 14 game schedules. The two teams switched conferences for the 1977 season, with the same setup as the previous season. This is where the teams remained (the Seahawks made their home in the AFC West while the Buccaneers joined the NFC North), with normal NFL schedules starting with the 1978 season.
One final note: the Seahawks moved back to the NFC in 2002 when the NFL established four 4-team divisions in the conferences. They have been a member of the NFC West ever since.
Greatest Runs
Unlikely Contenders (1983-1988): With the arrival of Chuck Knox as head coach in 1983, the Seahawks became a pretty formidable team in the AFC. They swept their season series against division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Raiders and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. But they weren't a typical young team to be used as a sacrificial lamb come the postseason: they hammered the Broncos in the wild card round and beat the Dolphins in Miami the next week (knocking out two teams with exceptional rookie quarterbacks in the process in John Elway and Dan Marino, respectively), but their Cinderella run came to an end against the aforementioned Raiders in the AFC Conference Championship Game.
The next season, they won a then team high twelve games and got their revenge against the Raiders in the wild card round, but dropped their next game against the Dolphins. While the team never won another playoff game in this stretch, they were still very talented and good, and won their first division title in 1988.
Welcome to the NFC (2003-2007): Mike Holmgren was hired as head coach and general manager of the team in 1999, but it wasn't until he was stripped of executive power that the Seahawks became a real threat. The team went to the playoffs in five straight seasons from 2003 to 2007 and won four straight NFC West titles (which admittedly was very weak at this time, including the Seahawks at times). From 2005 to 2007, the team won at least one playoff game. In 2005, they won a team record 13 games on their way to the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance, though they lost to the Steelers in what the NFL later acknowledged was an abysmally officiated game.
The Legion of Boom (2010-Present): The Seahawks shored up both of their safety positions in 2010 by drafting Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor. The following year, cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner came to the team. All four have been selected to at least one Pro Bowl since 2011 (seven Pro Bowls between the four in total) and are the cornerstones for a dominant throwback team that has a punishing run game and a fantastic defense. And ever since Pete Carroll was hired as head coach in 2010, the Seahawks have won 24 of 32 home games and have gone 15-1 at home since 2012.
Leanest Years
The Early Years (1976-1982): Here's the thing about expansion teams: with very few exceptions, the team almost always sucks for a fairly extended period of time at the beginning. The Seahawks lived up to those lofty expectations. The team went 39-62 (.386) over its first seven seasons, with a defense that usually finished at or near the bottom of the league while hemorrhaging points and yards. With the sole exception of the Jim Zorn/Steve Largent connection being really fun to watch, there's not a whole lot of good to take from these early years.
Pretty Much All of the 90s: Good thing Seattle had the Sonics, Ken Griffy Jr., Frasier and popular music during the 90s, because the Seahawks were a mess. The team went eight seasons without a winning record, the longest streak in team history. The Seahawks were only truly terrible once in that span (in 1992 when they finished with a team worst 2-14 record), which actually hurt them in a warped way, since they were bad enough to have a high draft pick, but not bad enough for that pick to net them a transcendent player. Then again, the player they chose after the worst season in team history was Rick Mirer, so maybe it's for the best that the Seahawks were merely mediocre at the time.
Another Blah Period of Nothingness (2008-2011): The team that went to the Super Bowl in 2005 got really old, really fast. The Seahawks went 23-41 in this time. There's not a whole lot to add to this. Sucky times.
Weirdest Year
Pete Carroll was hired as head coach in 2010 and it was clear that a major rebuilding effort was needed before the Seahawks were competitive again. Of course, what made things interesting was the fact that the rest of the NFC West wasn't in great shape either that year. The Arizona Cardinals, division winners in the previous two seasons, lost quarterback Kurt Warner to retirement and struggled mightily on their way to a 5-11 finish. The San Francisco 49ers also had a bad year as the players realized that they hated their head coach Mike Singeltary. And the St. Louis Rams were coming off of a 1-15 season and thus, weren't exactly the paragon of talent.
However, the Rams, by way of their rookie-of-the-year quarterback Sam Bradford, had themselves a decent bounce-back year and were 7-8 by the last week of the season. The Seahawks mostly were a team that played scrappy at home and largely ate it on the road. But they were 6-9 by the seventeenth and final week of the season. And thanks to the Cardinals and 49ers also sucking, the Rams and Seahawks game in the last week would determine what team took the NFC West title and the home playoff game that went with it. Since the game was in Seattle, the Seahawks naturally won the game, making them the only team in NFL history to win their division with a losing record.
However, the Rams, by way of their rookie-of-the-year quarterback Sam Bradford, had themselves a decent bounce-back year and were 7-8 by the last week of the season. The Seahawks mostly were a team that played scrappy at home and largely ate it on the road. But they were 6-9 by the seventeenth and final week of the season. And thanks to the Cardinals and 49ers also sucking, the Rams and Seahawks game in the last week would determine what team took the NFC West title and the home playoff game that went with it. Since the game was in Seattle, the Seahawks naturally won the game, making them the only team in NFL history to win their division with a losing record.
This ignited a firestorm from the media, who demanded that the playoffs be tweaked after the season to make sure an indignity like this would never happen again. Of course, the Seahawks proceeded beat the defending champion New Orleans Saints and advanced to the divisional round. Not a peep came from the media after that. The Seahawks got destroyed by the Bears the next week, but by then the damage was done and 2010 went down as the weirdest goddamn year in Seahawks history.
Names You Should Know
Steve Largent: This isn't hyperbole- when Steve Largent retired, he was the greatest wide receiver who had ever played professional football. He had the most receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in NFL history when he hung up his cleats in 1989. The touchdown mark was particularly impressive, because with 100 in his career, Largent broke Don Hudson's career mark of 99 that had stood for over forty years.
Unfortunately for Largent, as his career was winding down, the career of a receiver out of Mississippi Valley State by the name of Jerry Rice was just getting in gear. Rice played twenty years and torpedoed and burned all of Largent's records and then poured salt on the soil so nothing could ever grow there again. But Largent remains one of the best receivers in football history. He was the first player to have his number retired by the team, and he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming the first player to be inducted after playing most of their career with the Seattle Seahawks.
One final note: Largent remains the greatest player the Seahawks DIDN'T draft. He was actually drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft. The Oilers, remarkably, weren't impressed with Largent in the slightest and nearly cut him before trading him to the expansion Seahawks before the 1976 season in exchange for an eighth round pick in 1977. Considering that the Oilers selected wide receiver Stevie Davis with that pick and Davis never played a game in the NFL, I think the Seahawks made out alright in comparison.
Unfortunately for Largent, as his career was winding down, the career of a receiver out of Mississippi Valley State by the name of Jerry Rice was just getting in gear. Rice played twenty years and torpedoed and burned all of Largent's records and then poured salt on the soil so nothing could ever grow there again. But Largent remains one of the best receivers in football history. He was the first player to have his number retired by the team, and he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming the first player to be inducted after playing most of their career with the Seattle Seahawks.
One final note: Largent remains the greatest player the Seahawks DIDN'T draft. He was actually drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft. The Oilers, remarkably, weren't impressed with Largent in the slightest and nearly cut him before trading him to the expansion Seahawks before the 1976 season in exchange for an eighth round pick in 1977. Considering that the Oilers selected wide receiver Stevie Davis with that pick and Davis never played a game in the NFL, I think the Seahawks made out alright in comparison.
Chuck Knox: Known before his stint in the Pacific northwest for taking the Los Angeles Rams to three straight NFC Championship games in the mid-70s and for taking the Buffalo Bills of all teams to back-to-back playoff appearances in the early 80s, Knox did perhaps his best work as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Under Knox, the Seahawks were one of the better teams in the AFC, making the playoffs four times in his tenure and getting within a game of the Super Bowl in the 1983 postseason. Pretty remarkable for a team that hadn't existed a decade earlier. Knox had a well deserved reputation for being very conservative, leaning heavily on the running game and a strong defense. Despite or because of these traits, he was extremely successful, and his 186 career wins are the tenth most in NFL history.
Dave Krieg: A solid option at the quarterback position for the Seahawks for nearly a decade. Krieg took over the starting job from inaugural quarterback Jim Zorn, and while Krieg wasn't spectacular, he was a lot better than you remember him (if you remember him). Krieg was selected to three Pro Bowls, all with the Seahawks and he still holds the team record for touchdown passes thrown with 195.
Kenny Easley: A phenomenal safety who's career was tragically cut short. Easley played only seven seasons as a pro (all with the Seahawks), but made three 1st team All-Pro lists and went to five Pro Bowls. He recorded 32 interceptions in 89 games and was selected to the 1980s All-Decade Team (1st Team). Unfortunately, Easley had to retire before the 1988 season when it was discovered that he had a rare kidney disease, which Easley attributed to a prior overdose of Advil for an ankle injury in the past. Easley sued the team for giving him way too much medication (Easley claimed he took between 15 and 20 Advil a day to rehab his ankle, and a former teammate of his claimed that the Seahawks' medical staff basically handed out scores of pain pills willy nilly); the suit was later settled out of court. To this day, Easley still refuses to acknowledge the team when they try to bring him back for a variety of functions. If the allegations he levied against the team are true, I can't say I blame him.
Curt Warner: To repeat a tired, old joke, no, not that Kurt Warner. Warner bulldozed his way to an incredible rookie season, rushing for 1,449 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns, while leading the Seahawks to the AFC Championship game. He didn't win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award that year, because he had the misfortune of going pro the same year as Eric Dickerson. Warner suffered a torn ACL in the first game of the following year, ending his season before it had a real chance of starting. He did have a couple of good seasons after that, but the injury likely contributed to his early retirement after the 1990 season.
Cortez Kennedy: Arguably the best defensive player in team history. Kennedy was one of the few bright spots on the 90s Seahawks teams, highlighted when he won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 after the team was a league worst 2-14 (winners of the big end-of-year awards are almost always on successful teams, making Kennedy's win all the more impressive). Kennedy went to eight Pro Bowls and was thrice selected 1st Team All-Pro. His number 96 was retired by the team in 2012 to go along with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Walter Jones: One of the greatest offensive tackles of his era, if not all time. Jones started all 180 games he played for the Seahawks in his twelve year career. From 1999 to 2005, the Seahawks were in the top ten in rushing offense, thanks in no small part to Jones' blocking abilities. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls, four 1st Team All-Pro lists and was on the 1st Team for the 2000s All-Decade Team. His number 71 was retired by the team and he is pretty much a lock to make the hall of fame this year (he's a finalist in his first year of eligibility).
Mike Holmgren: Fresh off of taking the Green Bay Packers to back-to-back Super Bowls and winning one, Holmgren left Title Town, USA for the Pacific Northwest in 1999 not only to be the Seahawks' head coach, but also the team's general manager. While Holmgren was (and for all I know, still is) a great coach, his skills as a GM were... suspect. With one or two exceptions (which we'll be getting to), his draft picks were utter failures. While the team was marginally successful while he was the undisputed king of the sidelines and front office (it should be noted that the Seahawks won their division in his first season with the team, thus taking them to their first postseason since 1988), it wasn't until Holmgren was stripped of his executive powers following the 2002 season that the the team became a powerhouse in the NFC West. The Seahawks won five straight NFC West titles from 2003 to 2007, and went to the first Super Bowl in team history under Holmgren. His 86 wins are the most in team history and his career total of 161 ranks him thirteenth in NFL history.
Shaun Alexander: For a little while, Alexander was one of the best running backs in football. Helped by his natural athleticism and a strong offensive line, Alexander ran roughshod over the NFL. He led the league twice in rushing touchdowns and broke the record for rushing touchdowns in a single season with 27 in 2005, back when that record was falling seemingly every year. Alexander's 2005 season was one of the greatest a running back has ever had in football history. Besides his incredible 27 rushing touchdowns, Alexander also ran for 1,880 yards at 5.1 yards a pop on his way to being named NFL MVP. After 2005, Alexander's career took a nosedive, as he was plagued with injuries. He retired after the 2008 season, just three years after his MVP season. However brief his career was, Alexander is still the Seahawks' all-time leader in rushing attempts (2,176), rushing yards (9,429) and rushing touchdowns (100).
Steve Hutchinson: Shoring up the interior of the O-line next to Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson was one of the most decorated guards of his era. Between 2003 and 2009, he went to seven straight Pro Bowls and was named 1st Team All-Pro five times. Like Jones, he was invaluable to Shaun Alexander's dominance in the early-to-mid 2000s. He moved on to the Minnesota Vikings in 2006, where he also contributed to some guy named Adrian Peterson having some awesome years. Hutchinson retired after the 2012 season and is eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame starting with the 2018 class.
Five Current Guys You Should Know
Five Current Guys You Should Know
Pete Carroll: Current head coach and noted exuberant force. Carroll, along with general manager John Schneider, molded the Seahawks from a team with little talent into one of the dominant teams in the NFL. After two straight 7-9 seasons to start his tenure (which also included a playoff win, as mentioned above), the Seahawks have gone 24-8 overall and an astounding 15-1 at home since 2012. The Seahawks also have the distinction of winning at least one playoff game every time they've qualified for the postseason since Carroll's hiring. Carroll's success with the team completely rewrote the narrative on him as far as professional coaching is concerned- at different times, he was the head coach of the New York Jets and New England Patriots. Neither of those stints were particularly notable and Carroll was seen as something of a joke in league circles for his rah-rah attitude. And now he's coached a team to the Super Bowl. Good on you, Pete!
Marshawn Lynch: Coming to the team in the middle of the 2010 season by way of the Buffalo Bills, Lynch eventually became the driving force of the whole offense. Lynch rushed for 131 yards in the Seahawks' playoff victory over the defending champion Saints in 2010. Of particular note was his amazing 67 yard touchdown run, which caused slight seismic activity due to how loud the fans were cheering. Beyond that play, Lynch has been a workhorse for the team and the Seahawks are one of just two teams in the NFL currently that call more runs than passes, due in large part to his bruising, effective style.
Earl Thomas: Drafted by the team in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Earl Thomas immediately became a starter at the safety position and has started every possible game of his career (64 games and counting). Thomas' physical play in the middle of the field almost instantly made the Seahawks' defense (which had been workmanlike at best the decade or so before his arrvial) into a tough, hit-you-in-the-mouth unit. Thomas has already been selected to three Pro Bowls and has been named 1st Team All-Pro twice. In addition to all that, he could potentially be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2013 when it's all said and done.
Richard Sherman: In the same vain as Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman brings a level of physicality to the secondary. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 draft and 154th overall (he can name every cornerback drafted ahead of him), Sherman has become one of, if not the best corners in the NFL. He's twice been named 1st Team All-Pro and led the league in interceptions this year with eight (he also leads the league in interceptions since 2011 with 20). Also of note is that Sherman is really frickin' tall for a cornerback at 6'3''. According to Pro-Football Reference, 350 defensive backs played in the NFL in 2013. Only 24 of them were 6'3'' or taller and of those 24, only four were cornerbacks. Two of them play for the Seahawks (Sherman's fellow cornerback Brandon Browner is 6'4''). So beyond his physical play, he's also physically imposing. And you may have heard, he likes to talk. A lot.
Russell Wilson: Picked 75th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft (and infamously passed up by the Jacksonville Jaguars in favor of a punter), Wilson was expected to eventually take the starting job, but play behind Matt Flynn in the short term in order to learn the ropes. Instead, Wilson won the starting job outright and has started and played in every game of his career. Wilson has thrown 52 touchdowns to 19 interceptions in his first two seasons (he's tied with Peyton Manning for second most touchdowns thrown during a quarterbacks' first two seasons) and has been extremely accurate for such a young quarterback, completing over 60 percent of his passes of his career. While Wilson is the clear number two option in the Seahawks' offense after Marshawn Lynch and the run game, Wilson can still take the occasional game over and is capable of making some ludicrous throws. No doubt, he's one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL today.
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That'll do it for the Seahawks retrospective. I'll reveal my official Super Bowl pick on Saturday.
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