Marcus Trufant ends his career as a Seahawk

The 12th Man lost a corner back Thursday afternoon: Marcus Trufant.

The kid who dreamed of playing for the Seahawks while growing up in Tacoma did just that for 10 seasons after being the 11th person selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. In his 10 years with Seattle, he put up 557 solo tackles (638 combined) which put him at No. 10 all-time in Seahawks history. He grabbed 21 interceptions as well, and that placed him at No. 5 all time. He ran back two interceptions for touchdowns and also deflected 113 passes, recorded two sacks, forced five fumbles and obtained six fumble recoveries.

In 2003, he was voted to the NFL all-rookie team after starting all 16 games, making 78 tackles and defending 20 passes. The next year, he led the team with 93 tackles, making him the only corner back in franchise history and just the fourth in NFL history to do that. In 2005, Trufant got to play in the Super Bowl. Two years later, he was voted to the Pro Bowl after intercepting a career-high seven passes and making 85 tackles. He also added a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown to put the icing on the cake to the Seahawks’ wild-card playoff victory over the Washington Redskins. In 2010, Trufant had his final 16 game start season and made 80 tackles.

Now get this, he signed a ONE day contract with Seattle just so he could retire with the team who gave him life.

“I retire the right way, as a Seahawk,” said Trufant, who had signed both contract and retirement papers just before the news conference. Trufant said he’s excited about what’s going to come next in his life, as this chapter is closing.

“It has been a dream come true, and it’s still going,” he said, “so I’m excited.”

The audience was filled with people from his past and his present like Seahawks coach Pete Carroll; general manager John Schneider; and former teammates Walter Jones, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Roy Lewis. Also in attendance, of course, were his wife, kids, mother, father and two brothers, Desmond Trufant (Cleveland Browns) and Isaiah Trufant (Atlanta Falcons).

He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, but was released at the end of preseason and did not play in 2013.

“Thank God for everything that has happened in my life,” Trufant said. “It seems like it’s been like a storybook or a movie. Everything has been in my favor. I feel like I have God’s favor.”

Marcus Trufant ended this April day the same way he started on that April day in 2003, holding up his jersey with a smile.