Seattle Seahawks: 30 greatest players in franchise history
36. . OT. (1997-08). Walter Jones. 1. player
Franchise left tackles are extremely rare. Truly generational talents on the blind side are like winning lottery tickets. Walter Jones fits into the latter category, solidifying his status as the greatest Seahawks player in franchise history.
Offensive linemen don’t often get the credit they deserve. In Jones’ instance, folks around the NFL couldn’t help but notice the impact he made in Seattle. Let’s see the résumé: six All-Pro selections, nine Pro Bowl nods and his No. 71 jersey retired.
What else I truly appreciate about Jones’ legacy with the Seahawks is the fact that he spent all 12 of his seasons with the club. Not once did he decide to take his talents elsewhere — he stood by the franchise that drafted him sixth overall in 1997 and played out a Hall of Fame career without ever swapping jerseys. He earned Canton enshrinement in his first year of eligibility in 2014.
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Former Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren once referred to Jones as the greatest offensive player he ever coached (via ESPN). That’s lofty praise considering the source, and further confirmation to the left tackles’ elite talents. Jones will not only go down as arguably the best Seahawks player of all time, but has a case for the best left tackle in league history.