Five Best Running Backs in the History of the Seahawks
By Lee Vowell
1. Shaun Alexander
First, the reason that Alexander should not be ranked ahead of Lynch: he ran behind a line that included Walter Jones. If Lynch had had Alexander’s line, the Seahawks would have definitely had two Super Bowl wins.
Now for the reasons Alexander is number one. He is the all-time rusher in Seahawks history at 9.429 yards. That is almost 3,000 yards ahead of everybody else. He scored 100 times rushing. Lynch is second. At 57. Alexander ran the ball 500 more times than anyone else in Seattle’s past. Between 2001 and 2005, Alexander scored 87 rushing touchdowns. 87. This includes 27 in 2005. That is tied for second all-time in the NFL in a single-season.
If Alexander had played in New York or Dallas or Chicago, his career would be much more valued. He was a great running back. Sure, he had an incredible offensive line. He had an offense designed for his strengths. But he was successful with all that. He was the Seahawks first NFL MVP in 2005.
After the 2005 season, Alexander’s career began a downturn. However, in the five seasons prior to that he was a great player.
Great enough, in fact, to make him first among the greatest Seahawks running backs in the history of the franchise.