There have been a plethora of outstanding players to don the Seattle Seahawks’ colors over the years, but who are the 30 all-time greats to call the Emerald City home?
As a franchise, the Seattle Seahawks are relatively young compared to many of the NFL’s other clubs. While that may be the case, the most recent addition to the NFC West has still seen plenty of outstanding talent walk through its doors in the last 42 years.
In hopes of highlighting some of the biggest and brightest stars to ever call Seattle home, we’ve decided to put together this list of the greatest Seahawks players of all-time. More specifically, we’ll be counting down the 30 best players who’ve had the opportunity to be cheered on by the 12s.
Many of these names you’ll recognize, especially since the list includes several players who are still on the team or are at least on an NFL roster. Others, however, go as far back as the franchise’s beginnings, when it became an expansion team back in 1976. Either way, there should be at least a few familiar faces among the crowd.
Now keep in mind that this is a subjective list — my rankings are only meant to reflect my opinions, not yours. Don’t expect every spot to match perfectly with who you believe fits there.
Glad we got that all squared away. So without further ado, let’s dive right into my rankings of the 30 greatest Seahawks players in franchise history.
There were a number of wide receivers I was considering for the first spot on this list. Darrell Jackson seemed like a potential fit. Joey Galloway also garnered consideration, but the way his time with the team ended soured me on the idea.
In the end, I went with Doug Baldwin, the Seahawks’ most recent star receiver. Although he hasn’t yet earned the type of respect around the league that he rightfully deserves, it’s safe to say he’s made an unmistakable impact since coming to Seattle as an undrafted free agent.
Just in the last couple of years, he’s finally found his footing as one of the league’s best pass catchers. His star finally rose as high as we all knew it was capable of going in 2015, when Baldwin racked up a whopping 14 touchdowns. Although he didn’t earn his first Pro Bowl nod until a season later, he had officially arrived as one of the NFL’s premier receivers.
Don’t expect him to slow down anytime soon either. With Russell Wilson slinging the pigskin and no other star receivers currently on the roster, Baldwin will continue to be the go-to threat in the Seattle passing game.
Most of the guys on this list began their careers with the Seahawks. In the case of Chad Brown, he was a prized free agency addition that panned over very well. It wasn’t a foregone conclusion, but the big-name acquisition gave Seattle’s defense a huge boost in the pass-rushing department.
Hunting quarterbacks was always Brown’s bread and butter during his 15-year NFL career. Although his best season came with the Pittsburgh Steelers, there were plenty of terrific outings for him in Seattle. In those eight seasons, he earned two trips to the Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection.
More importantly, he notched a total of 48 sacks during his days on the West Coast. He never managed more than 8.5 sacks in a season for the Seahawks (his career best was 13.5 with the Steelers), but still stands in fifth place on the franchise’s all-time sack leader list.
After his departure from Seattle, Brown’s career took a turn for the worst. In three more seasons spread across Pittsburgh and New England, he secured only one sack and struggled to stick while transitioning to the inside linebacker position. While his career ended on a poor note, Brown will always be remembered for the resounding impact he made with the Seahawks.
The Seahawks have a long history of outstanding safeties. While I wouldn’t consider John Harris one of the elites of that group, you can absolutely make a case that he belongs in the top 30 players to ever take the field for Seattle.
There are two pieces to this puzzle.
The first is a career characterized by tough, consistent play from one of the Seahawks’ first standout defensive backs. Harris came to Seattle two seasons after the team was created in 1976, and spent the next eight years serving as the complementary piece to one of the franchise’s all-time great safeties, Kenny Easley.
Maybe that’s why he never made a Pro Bowl? Voters were too busy watching Easley to notice the impact Harris was having on Sundays. Still, if look back at the stats, it’s easy to see that the Seahawks’ “other” safety was well worth the recognition.
The second piece is that Harris is currently third on Seattle’s list of career interceptions with 31, and tied the team record for single-season interceptions (10). While he may never be remembered as a superstar, Harris is more than deserving of your admiration.
The fullbacks need love too, right?
Arguably the greatest fullback in Seahawks history, John L. Williams was the full package. First, he was a sensational blocker who paved the way for some of the greatest rushing efforts in franchise history. Second, he was a tremendous offensive weapon who knew how to create yards on his own.
When his eight years with the Seahawks came to an end, he had amassed 4,579 rushing yards — good for fifth on the team’s all-time list. As a fullback. What’s more is he made his presence felt through the air as well, 471 passes for 4,151 yards and 16 touchdowns. Again, as a fullback. You simply don’t see that type of production from fullbacks anymore.
Realistically, Williams probably deserves to be higher on this list. However, as we all know, the fullback gets no glory. Heck, it’s a position that some teams don’t even use anymore.
While that may be, Williams made the most of his time in Seattle. It’s safe to say he earned a spot for himself atop the list of the Seahawks’ most versatile players in franchise history. Now that’s something to hang your hat on, regardless of position.
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.
The heir apparent to Steve Largent’s throne as the Seahawks’ lead receiver, Brian Blades could never quite fill his predecessor’s shoes. With that said, he didn’t do too shabby considering he was following in the footsteps of one of the greatest receivers to ever grace the gridiron.
Realistically, Blades more than held his own as the next star pass catcher for Seattle. When he had finally hung up his cleats after 11 seasons, he was second in nearly every receiving category — behind Largent, of course. When compared to just about any other Seahawks receiver, Blades was a sensation.
Unfortunately, it just wasn’t ever quite enough. Throughout his 11-year career, he managed only one Pro Bowl selection. Although he cracked the 1,000-yard receiving mark on four separate occasions, his single-season high was only 1,086. Today, that’s good for only 11th on the Seahawks’ all-time list.
With all of that said, I must give credit where it’s due. Blades was an impact receiver for the Seahawks for over a decade, helping to fill the void left by a legendary offensive weapon. For that, he finds himself at No. 25 on the list of the greatest players in Seattle history.
Marcus Trufant may not go down as the best cornerback in Seattle history, but he certainly found a way to bring value to the franchise during his 10 years in town. In essence, he was the one who ushered in the Legion of Boom era, so we could call him a pioneer.
Now, realistically, Trufant was only a part of that group for a year or two. During that time, he mainly served as a backup while Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner held the starting roles. Still, he spent those couple of seasons serving as the invaluable veteran presence and mentor for the gaggle of rising stars.
Before that, though, Trufant was a star in his own right.
Despite only having one Pro Bowl nod to his name, Trufant epitomized the steady, dependable cornerback of the mid-2000s. Through his first six seasons in Seattle, he missed only two games while intercepting 17 passes. His effort and consistency held to build the foundation for what eventually became the NFL’s best secondary.
To top it all off, Trufant was a hometown hero of sorts for the Seahawks. Born in Tacoma and having spent his college career at Washington State, he was right at home with the Seahawks. That helped him become a fan favorite, both for his local roots and outstanding play.
When it comes to pass rushers, there weren’t many better to ever wear a Seahawks uniform than Michael Sinclair. Although his legacy gets overlooked a bit because of Jacob Green, you can’t ignore the impressive production and impact Sinclair brought to the table.
All but one of his 11 NFL campaigns were spent with the Seahawks. During those 10 years, he tallied 73.5 sacks, good enough for second all-time among Seattle defenders. Put simply, his ability to get after opposing passers was uncanny. It makes it even better when you consider the Seahawks only had to spend a sixth-round pick to get Sinclair.
Among his 10 seasons in Seattle, three resulted in Pro Bowl appearances. The best one though, came in 1998 when he amassed 16.5 quarterback takedowns. That number still stands as the best in a single season in franchise history, even besting Green’s 16 sacks in 1983.
The Seahawks had a lot of down years during the 1990s. While there were few positives during that time, you can certainly mark Sinclair as one of the highlights of those Seattle defenses.
Chances are Steve Hutchinson would be higher on this list had he stayed in Seattle longer. However, considering that he played for the team for only five seasons, slotting him in at No. 22 seems like the safe bet.
Despite the lack of longevity, Hutchinson was a beast for the Seahawks during those five seasons. In that time, he earned three trips to the Pro Bowl and three All-Pro selections while serving as the centerpiece of an offensive line that helped Shaun Alexander have one of the most successful rushing seasons in NFL history.
Hutchinson was a key cog in Seattle’s run to Super Bowl XL, which ended up being his final game with the Seahawks. The next offseason, he joined the Minnesota Vikings via free agency and never looked back.
When put into perspective, Hutchinson may have been one of the best blockers to ever don a Seahawks jersey. It’s unfortunate his time with the club was so short (relatively), but the impact he made during those five seasons was more than enough to place him confidently among Seattle’s all-time bests.
There have been plenty of outstanding running backs to come through Seattle over the years. Although some obviously stood out more than others, there’s no denying that Chris Warren made the most of his shot when he got it with the Seahawks.
In fact, Warren was among the most productive of runners during his stay in the Northwest. For four straight seasons, he racked up more than 1,000 yards, ending his tenure with the Seahawks with 6,706 rushing yards — good enough for second all-time among Seattle backs.
Even when Warren wasn’t a part of the offense for his first couple of seasons, he was making an impact as a returner. Although far from a superstar return specialist, he did strike paydirt once as a punt returner during his sophomore campaign. Warren even made an impact as a receiver out of the backfield, amassing 1,342 receiving yards and three touchdowns during his time in Seattle.
Warren wasn’t the greatest running back to ever don the Seahawks’ colors. Still, his career was an extremely productive one that vaulted him to the No. 21 spot on the franchise’s all-time list. If you asked me, I’d say that was a fairly successful run.
Unfortunately, there haven’t been a ton of standout quarterbacks to suit up for the Seahawks over the years. In fact, every one that’s started for more than three or four years is on this list, beginning with Jim Zorn.
Now admittedly, Zorn was far from a star under center. He was never named to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, and the majority of his seasons included more interceptions than touchdowns. While that may be the case, he was the Seahawks’ first starting quarterback who held the role for nearly a decade before finally being replaced.
Honestly, I think it all comes down to Zorn holding his own while the franchise was still getting its feet wet in the league. They didn’t make the playoffs until he was unseated by Dave Krieg, but he orchestrated a few solid seasons, including back-to-back 9-7 efforts.
If you’re really being nitpicky, you could make a case that this is way too high for Zorn. Chances are you wouldn’t get too much opposition in response. Regardless, I believe the franchise’s first gunslinger deserves a spot on this list for keeping his head above water while so many starting quarterbacks of expansion teams have drowned.
Put simply, Kam Chancellor put the “Boom” in the Legion of Boom. While Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas also weren’t afraid to lay a licking on an unsuspecting wide receiver, it was the underrated safety out of Virginia Tech who was the true enforcer of the group.
It’s just too bad that physical style of play may have been what did Chancellor in. It was recently announced that the Seahawks’ starting strong safety was hanging up his cleats due to an inability to get medically cleared of a lingering neck injury. While it was another devastating blow to the once-feared Seattle secondary, it was the right call for his post-football future.
Despite his career being cut short, Chancellor leaves behind a vast legacy highlighted by big hits, big plays and a big attitude. In eight years with the Seahawks, he convinced the rest of the league to steer clear, offering punishment to any player who dared wander into his territory. Even when he wasn’t hitting people, Chancellor was pretty good at simply keeping the ball out of receivers’ hands.
The 2010 fifth-round pick parlayed his success into two All-Pro selections and four trips to the Pro Bowl, along with a Super Bowl ring. Despite the nagging injuries and early retirement, it’s clear as day that Chancellor was one of the greatest safeties to ever play in Seattle.
Most folks know about the big-name running backs who have played for the Seahawks over the years. I’m talking primarily about Shaun Alexander and Marshawn Lynch. However, not many outside of the Pacific Northwest are too familiar with Curt Warner.
Heck, if you said his name, it would be safe to assume you were talking about the then-St. Louis Rams’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback Kurt Warner. However, Seahawks fans know that there was another star by a similar name who brought his own flavor of flare and excitement to the gridiron only a decade earlier.
Warner was a spark plug for the Seattle offense, combining his impressive rushing skills with solid receiving chops to give the Seahawks a versatile weapon. He hit a few bumps in the road during his seven seasons with the franchise (including a torn ACL as a sophomore), but made the most of his opportunities.
When his days in Seattle were done, Warner was the franchise’s career leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, earning three Pro Bowl nods and three All-pro selections along the way. He’s since been surpassed in both categories, but nonetheless carved out a niche for himself among the all-time great running backs in Seahawks history.
The Seahawks haven’t had a plethora of elite linebackers enter their ranks during their 40+ years as a franchise. However, I think it’s safe to say Bobby Wagner has already asserted himself as arguably the best of the bunch.
No one was sure what to expect of Wagner, a second-round pick out of Utah State in 2012. There was plenty of hype surrounding him coming into the draft, but being that he hailed from a school not known for producing NFL talent didn’t quell fans’ concerns. Luckily for Seattle, Wagner did that himself in almost no time at all.
By Week 1 of his rookie season in 2012, Wagner was starting at inside linebacker for the Seahawks. That year, he amassed 139 total tackles, two sacks and three interceptions while stealing the hearts of 12s everywhere. Six years have now gone by since he came to the Pacific Northwest, and we’ve seen nothing short of sensational play from Wagner.
Each of the last four seasons, he’s earned invites to the Pro Bowl. In all but one of those years, he was named as a First-Team All-Pro at linebacker. Already among the team’s career leaders in total tackles and only 28 years old, I don’t see Wagner slowing down anytime soon. Chances are he’ll be even higher on this list when his days as a Seahawk are over.
The first of a deadly duo of Seattle defensive ends during the 1980s, Jeff Bryant made life miserable for opposing passers. Unfortunately, much of his time with the Seahawks was spent playing in the shadow of his superior teammate, Jacob Green.
Still, during his 12 seasons with the club, Bryant made an unmistakable mark with his impressive combination of pass rushing and playmaking. His efforts didn’t culminate in any Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors, but that doesn’t devalue the damage he did while wearing a Seahawks jersey.
Finishing his career with 63 sacks, Bryant ranks third on the club’s all-time list behind only Green and Sinclair. Although the majority of his most effective seasons came early on, he was a consistent presence for Seattle, serving as a full-time starter for all 12 of his seasons in the Emerald City. Who knows what could have been had he not played alongside two of the best defensive linemen in team history.
Either way, it doesn’t take away from what Bryant accomplished. He may not have any fancy awards pinned to his name, but his talents were nonetheless vital to some of the Seahawks’ most successful seasons.
You know how I previously mentioned the Seahawks’ long history of excellent safeties? Well, the next to take Seattle by storm after John Harris was Eugene Robinson, who was a star in his own right.
Robinson played for the Seahawks for 11 seasons, starting in all but his rookie campaign. During that time, he earned two Pro Bowl appearances and solidified himself as one of the best safeties in the business. So what made him so special?
Well, given that he always seemed to get his hands on the football did the trick. Robinson finished his time in Seattle with 42 interceptions, and hauled in another 15 in the five seasons he played with other clubs. His career total of 57 interceptions has been bested by only 11 other NFL players, a huge accomplishment on its own.
Robinson ended his Seahawks career with a franchise-best 984 tackles, proving his value as a show-stopping run defender. The most impressive part, though? The fact that he did all of this as an undrafted free agent, going from unheralded prospect to star during his days on the West Coast.
Next in the line of outstanding Seahawks quarterbacks, Dave Krieg ushered in a new era under center after taking over for Jim Zorn as the starter. Although he can’t claim any Super Bowl appearances or All-Pro honors, his performance at the helm of the Seattle offense was outstanding.
With Krieg conducting the offense, the Seahawks took their first four trips to the postseason (including an AFC Championship appearance) and won their first division title. During his nine years as the starter (12 total in Seattle), Krieg earned three Pro Bowl nods and blew all of Zorn’s stats out of the water.
There’s one more piece that proves how instrumental Krieg was to the Seahawks’ success. When he finally departed in 1992, the franchise suffered its worst season to date, finishing 2-14. The drop-off suffered after Kelly Stouffer took over as the starter was monstrous, toppling Seattle to the NFL basement.
Was Krieg a superstar for the Seahawks? Not really, and that’s fine. What he did was get the franchise moving in the right direction while providing them with a quality, stable quarterback to rely on for nearly a decade. Sounds like quite the bargain for an undrafted free agent.
When you think about some of the great cornerbacks in Seattle history, most folks’ minds immediately go to Richard Sherman. However, if you were around during the 1970s or 1980s, then you probably have fond memories of Dave Brown.
The first truly elite cornerback to play for the Seahawks, Brown was a ball hawk before it was in fashion. Still the current owner of the franchise record for career interceptions (50), the Michigan alum had a knack for getting his hands on the football. Furthermore, he also owns the Seahawks record for pick-sixes with five.
Brown joined the Seahawks in their inaugural season after three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He then spent the next decade starring in the Seattle secondary as an interception machine who opposing passers were afraid to throw towards. It resulted in two All-Pro selections and one Pro Bowl appearance.
A prominent part of the Seahawks’ historic game during which they returned four interceptions for touchdowns, Brown will always have a place in team history — especially after being inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 1992.
For fans outside of Seattle, I think it’s easy to overlook Matt Hasselbeck as an exceptional NFL quarterback. He had some tough years towards the end of his time with the Seahawks, made only three Pro Bowls in 17 seasons, and had a good-but-not-great career stat line.
Still, in terms of his impact on the Seahawks franchise, there are no two ways about it. Hasselbeck was one of the great ones, especially for a team without a long history of star quarterbacks.
The one thing that really stands out for Hasselbeck, though, is that he led the Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance. Although it obviously culminated in a loss, we can’t discredit that he piloted the league’s No. 1 offense, earned Seattle a 13-3 record and got them to the Big Game. Then again, Shaun Alexander deserves some credit, too.
Either way, Hasselbeck earned his right to be on this list. He was the Seahawks’ starting quarterback for 10 seasons, many of which yielded far more positive than negative results. For how few extraordinary gunslingers Seattle has had over the years, I’d say they got it right with Hasselbeck.
It’s not every day you land a shutdown cornerback in the fifth round. And yet, that’s exactly what the Seahawks did when they took a shot on the Stanford alum and watched him turn into a superstar nearly overnight.
Richard Sherman quickly became the prototype for top-flight cornerbacks, sporting plenty of athleticism, a long frame and the impeccable instincts needed to make opposing quarterbacks think twice about throwing his way. His four Pro Bowls, four All-Pro selections and Super Bowl ring are proof of his unquestionably elite skills.
Some folks may have been turned off by his on-field antics and arrogant approach to the media. It’s understandable, but so is that Sherman was overflowing with confidence. It’s part of what makes him such a nightmare for receivers to play against.
Sherman’s stay in Seattle came to an ugly end, as the team let him walk after an Achilles tear ended his 2017 campaign. Now with the San Francisco 49ers, the Seahawks will be forced to play against him twice a year. Despite the flip-flop to an NFC West rival, Sherman still deserves a spot among the greatest Seattle players in history.
Surprisingly, some people tend to overlook Shaun Alexander as one of the Seahawks’ all-time greats because of his relatively short period of dominance, his dependence on Matt Hasselbeck and an elite offensive line, as well as the cliff he fell off after his historic 2005 season.
Still, there’s no reason to try to bring Alexander down. One of the very best running backs to ever play for the franchise, he put together one of the most impressive efforts the NFL has ever seen. The aforementioned 2005 campaign was his pièce de résistance, as he compiled 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground, earning him NFL MVP honors.
Again though, people argue that he had an unusual amount of help. Hasselbeck kept defenses honest, while the front-five (led by Steve Hutchinson) easily paved huge holes for Alexander to run through. The second the offensive line underwent some restructuring, Alexander’s effectiveness took a huge hit.
Whatever way you choose to spin it, we must all admit Alexander was a sensation for the Seahawks. He tops the franchise rushing yards list by a wide margin and amassed a whopping 100 rushing touchdowns during his eight seasons in Seattle.
I’d say that’s more than worthy of the No. 10 spot on this list.
One of the greatest modern Seahawks, Earl Thomas has, in ways, revolutionized the safety position. A truly elite athlete with blazing speed, uncanny instincts and a nose for the football, it’s a surprise the rest of the NFL let him slide to Seattle at No. 14 overall.
And yet, here he is as the last remaining member of the Legion of Boom (unless you count Byron Maxwell). Although his legacy has soured a bit in recent years with contract disputes and a potential trade on the horizon, there’s no denying he’s made a monumental impact on this franchise and its recent string of successful seasons.
No one’s going to argue that Thomas was instrumental in the Seahawks’ back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 2013-14. Before injuries started to take him off the field more often than fans would’ve liked, he was busy racking up three First-Team All-Pro honors and five Pro Bowl selections in a row.
In his eight seasons with Seattle, Thomas has notched 662 total tackles, 25 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, three defensive touchdowns and countless game-changing plays. It seems like his time in town is nearing its end, but that doesn’t take away from all he’s done in those eight years.
You could probably make a case for Jacob Green to be higher on this list. Regardless, I think the No. 8 spot is more than fitting for one of the very best pass rushers to ever suit up for the Seahawks.
At this moment, Green is still the franchise leader in sacks. What’s crazy is it’s not even close. When his 12 seasons in Seattle were over, he had amassed 97.5 sacks. That’s not including any he tallied during his first two seasons, which were before the NFL officially began collecting the “sack” stat.
The second highest sack total on the Seahawks’ all-time list is Michael Sinclair, who owns 24 less than Green. The highest total currently on the roster is Frank Clark, who has a measly 22 sacks and may or may not be in Seattle for the long run.
Green’s career was highlighted by five seasons of 12 or more quarterback takedowns, including a 16-sack effort in 1983. He may not have garnered a ton of recognition from around the league (two Pro Bowls, 2 All-Pro selections), but he certainly made the most of his opportunities in Seattle.
Marshawn Lynch’s stay in Seattle may have only lasted six seasons, but those six seasons were mostly spent serving as one of the NFL’s most unstoppable running backs. There’s a reason he became known as Beast Mode during his days with the Seahawks.
It all started with this run:
That play alone bumped him up a few spots on this list.
From there, it was nothing but outstanding play from one of the NFL’s toughest runners to bring down. Lynch spent the next five seasons dominating would-be tacklers, using his impressive mix of speed, strength and vision to rack up 1,200+ rushing yards and 11+ touchdowns for four straight years.
Lynch was vital to the Seahawks’ back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. During those days, Seattle sported one of the NFL’s truly unstoppable run games, all thanks to the consistently dominant efforts of the Oakland native.
His last season in town wasn’t great, leading to his retirement after an injury-riddled 2015 season. Despite the disappointing end and un-retirement in 2017, Lynch will still go down as one of the greatest runners to ever grace the grass of CenturyLink Field.
One of the key pieces of the best defensive line in Seahawks history, Joe Nash was the interior presence bookended by Green and Bryant. Although his sack totals aren’t nearly as impressive as either of his former teammates, his impact could never be questioned.
The truly impressive part of his résumé though, is his longevity. Nash played 15 seasons in the NFL, all with the Seahawks. During that time, he appeared in a franchise-record 218 games. Although he made only one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro team, his role alongside Jacob Green and Jeff Bryant was paramount to Seattle’s success during the 1980s.
Even his career stats were impressive considering much of it was spent playing nose tackle, a position not known for stuffing the stat sheet. When his playing days had come to an end, he had amassed 779 tackles, 47.5 sacks (sixth-best in Seahawks history) and even scored one touchdown.
Nash may not be one of the most well-known names on this list outside of Seattle. However, based on his consistent and extended career with the Seahawks, there’s no doubt in my mind he belongs right up near the top of terms of the franchise’s best players.
To some, this may be a bit high for Russell Wilson. However, when you consider all that he’s done for the franchise during his six seasons, it’s more than enough to rank him among the best NFL players to ever call Seattle home.
What’s crazy is it only cost the Seahawks a third-round pick to secure Wilson’s talents. Overlooked due to his lack of size, he quickly made his presence felt in the Emerald City and never looked back. Not only has he started every single game since being drafted, but he’s quietly proven himself to be among the NFL’s best modern gunslingers.
So what makes him so great? Well, for one, his escapability is nearly unparalleled. Possessing an uncanny instinct to sense pressure and escape the pocket, he turns what look like blown plays into big gains. He’s extremely accurate, knows how to use his athleticism to his advantage and is as tough as they come.
The Seahawks have Wilson largely to thank for their first and only Lombardi Trophy. Although you could also give ample credit to the Legion of Boom for their success from 2012-2016, the fact that things turned around overnight following Wilson’s arrival is proof of his immense impact.
Wilson is, without a doubt, the best quarterback in Seahawks history.
His time with the team may have ended poorly, but Kenny Easley was a legend during his seven-year stint with the Seahawks. Having reconciled with the club and watched his No. 45 jersey enter retirement only a year ago, it’s safe to say he’s cemented his spot in Seattle lore.
Easley’s playing days came to an abrupt end after he was diagnosed with a kidney disease following a trade from the Seahawks. However, prior to his departure, he was arguably one of the very best defenders of the 1980s who relentlessly wreaked havoc for the Seattle defense.
From Day 1, Easley was a star. After stepping into a starting role as a rookie, he quickly made a name for himself as a playmaking safety with an uncanny knack for getting his hands on the football. By the time his rookie year was in the books, he had earned AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and was on his way to becoming one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
In just those seven seasons, he made the Pro Bowl five times, was selected as an All-Pro five times and was named the 1984 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Easley still co-owns the franchise record for most interceptions in a season with 10. Suffice it to say, he was one of the very best to ever wear the Seahawks uniform. It took a while, but Easley was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
There are so many reasons Cortez Kennedy belongs at No. 3 on this list. The first is that the two guys ahead of him are that good. The other is this fact: in 1992, he won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award on a 2-14 Seahawks team.
Seriously, that’s mind-boggling. How does a defensive tackle convince the rest of the NFL that he’s the best defender in the league despite his club putting together an overall woeful effort? I mean, Kennedy played an integral role on a still-solid Seattle defense while racking up 92 total tackles and 14 sacks — as a defensive tackle.
Yes, Kennedy was that good. Before his playing days were over, he had earned eight Pro Bowl appearances (six in a row), five All-Pro selections and a permanent place in the hearts of Seahawks fans everywhere. It all culminated in his jersey number being retired and his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012.
Kennedy was a rare breed of player, possessing a combination of size, athleticism and strength that just isn’t natural. And yet, he took the tools given to him and used them to provide the Seahawks with 11 awesome seasons of pure destruction.
Considered by many to be the greatest Seahawk of all-time, I have the historic receiver coming in at a very close second. You could even say that he’s worthy of a 1B designation, but let’s just go with No. 2 for simplicity’s sake.
When Largent’s NFL career came to a close, he owned nearly every receiving record in the book. Not only does he have almost twice as many receiving yards as any Seahawk in history, but he capped his playing days off with a monstrous 100 touchdown receptions, unprecedented production in that era of football.
Put simply, the man was unstoppable. No pass was too difficult for him to catch. There’s a reason he earned the nickname Yoda, and it wasn’t his height.
Largent was the face of the Seahawks franchise, and the first true superstar the franchise ever had. He was the model of consistency, as he still holds team records for most games played (197) and longest streak of games with at least one catch (177).
He may not have received the No. 1 spot this time around, but he certainly has a strong argument for it.
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.