Seattle Seahawks: 30 greatest players in franchise history

Imagine had Lofa Tatupu played a full NFL career. That wasn’t the case, unfortunately. Instead, he was limited to only six seasons in the league, due in large part to injuries that eventually managed to cut his time with the Seahawks short.

When he was in town though, Tatupu was a sensational presence in the middle of the Seattle defense. Playing from 2005-2010, the USC alum was among the best inside linebackers in the NFL. As a result, he was honored with an All-Pro selection and three Pro Bowl nods (including his rookie year). Suffice it to say, he quickly established himself as a star in the Emerald City.

The wheels fell off quickly though. In 2009, a torn pectoral muscle brought his campaign to an ugly end. While his 2010 effort wasn’t terrible, a drop-off in effectiveness forced the Seahawks to pull the plug on the highly paid linebacker. A repeat pectoral tear in 2012 while playing with the Atlanta Falcons brought his NFL career to an unspectacular end.

Had Tatupu not gotten hurt in 2009, there’s no telling where he could have taken the Seahawks. They had already had him under contract through 2015, meaning to make him the centerpiece of their defense. Still, even through six seasons, Tatupu asserted himself as a franchise great.